20th Ryu-O Match Game 5
[Black "Sato Yasumitsu, Challenger"]
[White "Watanabe Akira, Ryu-O"]
[Event "20th Ryu-O sen, Game 5"]
[Date "November 28th and 29th 2007"]
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:01:00
3.S7i-6h 00:00:00 00:01:00
4.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:02:00
5.P6g-6f 00:00:00 00:02:00
6.S7a-6b 00:00:00 00:03:00
7.P5g-5f 00:00:00 00:03:00
8.P5c-5d 00:00:00 00:04:00
9.S3i-4h 00:00:00 00:04:00
10.S3a-4b 00:00:00 00:05:00
11.G6i-7h 00:00:00 00:05:00
12.G4a-3b 00:00:00 00:06:00
13.K5i-6i 00:00:00 00:06:00
14.K5a-4a 00:00:00 00:07:00
15.G4i-5h 00:00:00 00:07:00
16.G6a-5b 00:00:00 00:19:00
17.S6h-7g 00:00:00 00:19:00
18.S4b-3c 00:00:00 00:19:00
19.B8h-7i 00:00:00 00:19:00
20.B2b-3a 00:00:00 00:19:00
21.P3g-3f 00:00:00 00:19:00
22.P4c-4d 00:00:00 00:20:00
23.S4h-3g 00:00:00 00:20:00
24.B3a-6d 00:00:00 00:28:00
25.G5h-6g 00:00:00 00:28:00
26.P7c-7d 00:00:00 00:29:00
27.B7i-6h 00:00:00 00:29:00
28.G5b-4c 00:00:00 00:29:00
29.K6i-7i 00:00:00 00:29:00
30.K4a-3a 00:00:00 00:30:00
31.K7i-8h 00:00:00 00:30:00
32.K3a-2b 00:00:00 00:30:00
33.S3g-4f 00:00:00 00:30:00
34.S6b-5c 00:00:00 00:34:00
35.N2i-3g 00:00:00 00:34:00
36.B6d-7c 00:00:00 00:34:00
37.P1g-1f 00:00:00 00:34:00
38.P1c-1d 00:00:00 00:34:00
39.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:34:00
40.S3c-2d 00:00:00 00:35:00
41.P2f-2e 00:47:00 00:35:00
Clearly a prepared opening by Sato, because he played all his moves up to
here without using any of his available thinking time. He took 47 minutes for
this move, which took him ahead of Watanabe here, who had used 35 minutes in
total. No opening gimmicks, but a deep theoretical battle this time.
42.S2d-1c 00:47:00 00:54:00
43.L9i-9h 00:55:00 00:54:00
44.P9c-9d 00:55:00 02:34:00
45.K8h-9i 00:56:00 02:34:00
46.P9d-9e 00:56:00 02:34:00
47.S7g-8h 00:57:00 02:34:00
48.L9a-9d 00:57:00 02:43:00
49.R2h-1h 01:57:00 02:43:00
50.R8b-9b 01:57:00 03:29:00
51.B6h-5i?! 02:51:00 03:29:00
A surprising decision by Sato. The reason for moving the rook to 1h is to get
a pawn in hand (P1e Px1e P*1d R1h), and use this pawn for a daring attack.
However, Sato delays this plan for reasons that were also a mystery to Watanabe.
After the game, Sato explained that he didn't like 51.P1e Px1e Rx1e S1d, putting
pressure on the rook and clearing the edge for an escape with the king later.
This might be a legitimate concern against players like Habu, but Watanabe is
not the type of player to play it that way. Rather than having an escape route
for the king, he likes to have the king surrounded by its own pieces. Therefore,
he said after the game that he would never have pushed up the silver to 1d. If Sato
had anticipated this, he would have played 51.P1e here, instead of playing three
waiting moves.
52.N8a-9c 02:51:00 04:04:00
53.S4f-5g 03:00:00 04:04:00
54.L1a-1b 03:00:00 04:33:00
55.P4g-4f 03:18:00 04:33:00
56.K2b-1a 03:18:00 04:44:00
57.P1f-1e 03:23:00 04:44:00
Only now Sato plays the pawn exchange, because with the king on 1a, pushing up the
silver is too risky.
58.P1dx1e 03:23:00 04:44:00
59.R1hx1e 03:23:00 04:44:00
60.P*1d 03:23:00 04:45:00
61.R1e-1h 03:23:00 04:45:00
62.G3b-2b 03:23:00 04:47:00
Looks like a strange way to play the anaguma, but there is an important reason for
preferring 62.G2b over 62.S2b. Sato's plan is to go for the lance using the pawn he
has exchanged by playing P9f Px9f P*9e Lx9e Bx9e, but this is not immediately possible,
because white has the strong counter P3e followed by R3b and white also has good
attacking chances. Actually, a similar plan was played by Habu in his game against
Yashiki in the Oi challenger final in 2003, a game that Habu won using this rook switch.
63.R1h-2h 05:09:00 04:47:00
Looks like this is played to defend the pawn on 3f with R2f later, but after the game
Sato denied that this was his intention. He just wanted to attack on the second file
to bring the knight on 3g into play.
64.S5c-4b 05:09:00 04:55:00
65.P2e-2d 05:18:00 04:55:00
66.S1cx2d 05:18:00 05:05:00
67.P9g-9f 05:18:00 05:05:00
68.P9ex9f 05:18:00 05:10:00
69.P*9e 05:18:00 05:10:00
70.L9dx9e 05:18:00 05:10:00
71.B5ix9e 05:18:00 05:10:00
A daring plan, but perhaps too risky. Black wins a lance, but attacking on the head
of one's own king goes against all shogi logic. Sato likes to walk close to the abyss,
which is especially risky when he is struggling with his form as he is in this match.
Still, it is the only way he can play, so he has to live or die by it.
72.N9c-8e 05:18:00 05:10:00
73.L9hx9f 05:50:00 05:10:00
74.P*9g 05:50:00 06:12:00
75.N8ix9g 05:50:00 06:12:00
76.N8ex9g+ 05:50:00 06:12:00
77.S8hx9g 05:50:00 06:12:00
78.B7c-6d 05:50:00 06:12:00
79.B9e-8f 06:01:00 06:12:00
80.P*9e 06:01:00 06:19:00
81.L9fx9e 06:08:00 06:19:00
82.R9bx9e 06:08:00 06:19:00
83.B8fx9e 06:11:00 06:19:00
84.L*9a 06:11:00 06:19:00
85.P*9d 06:33:00 06:19:00
86.B6dx9g+ 06:33:00 06:32:00
87.L*9h 06:33:00 06:32:00
88.+B9gx9h 06:33:00 06:32:00
89.K9ix9h 06:33:00 06:32:00
90.L9ax9d 06:33:00 06:32:00
91.R*9a 06:35:00 06:32:00
92.L9dx9e 06:35:00 06:32:00
93.R9ax9e+ 06:35:00 06:32:00
94.B*5i 06:35:00 06:36:00
95.P8g-8f 06:39:00 06:36:00
96.S*8e 06:39:00 06:52:00
97.+R9ex8d 06:53:00 06:52:00
98.P*9g 06:53:00 06:55:00
99.K9h-8g! 06:53:00 06:55:00
Watanabe has been attacking strongly and in the press room preparations for the
interview after his fourth straight Ryu-O title were under way, but Sato is not
ready to give up just yet. This is another daring move by Sato, moving the king up
towards the opponent attackers. Watanabe admitted after the game that he hadn't
looked at this move much. On the other hand, Sato felt here that there might be
a small ray of light here.
100.B5ix8f+ 06:53:00 06:56:00
101.K8g-8h 06:53:00 06:56:00
102.P9g-9h+ 06:53:00 06:56:00
103.K8h-7i 06:53:00 06:56:00
104.+B8f-5i 06:53:00 07:04:00
Now it is time for Watanabe to play a daring attack. The black king is sandwiched
between promoted bishop and promoted pawn and looks in grave danger. However, white
doesn't have a gold and the silver on 8e is hanging.
105.S5g-4h! 07:10:00 07:04:00
This game was played in Tendo, a little more than an hour's drive from where I live.
I was in the press room for the afternoon of the second day, using Gekisashi and
Bonanza (mainly Gekisashi) to analyse the game. Here Gekisashi suggested 105.S4h,
giving black a slight edge. This move was not analysed by the professionals in the
room (Nakahara, Tomioka and Aono at the time) and when it was related to them that
Gekisashi suggested S4h, they first couldn't believe that it was a good move. A little
later Sato played it and after the game he said: "Here S4h is the only move", to which
Watanabe agreed. Computer shogi has come a long way...
106.+B5i-4i 07:10:00 07:16:00
107.+R8dx8e 07:11:00 07:16:00
Watanabe was feeling great with his king safely in the anaguma and attacking, which
is almost a perfect scenario for the anaguma side. The only deciding condition that
needs to be met is that the attack is not running out of steam. It looked like Watanabe's
attack was unstoppable, but Sato is fighting back hard and he has to be careful here.
108.L*2f 07:11:00 07:16:00
109.R2hx2f 07:12:00 07:16:00
110.+B4ix4h 07:12:00 07:16:00
111.K7i-6h 07:15:00 07:16:00
112.P*8d 07:15:00 07:17:00
113.+R8ex8d 07:17:00 07:17:00
114.N*6e 07:17:00 07:21:00
115.L*5i 07:20:00 07:21:00
116.+B4hx3g 07:20:00 07:21:00
117.R2f-1f 07:28:00 07:21:00
118.N*4g 07:28:00 07:26:00
119.P6fx6e 07:28:00 07:26:00
120.+B3gx5i 07:28:00 07:26:00
121.K6h-5g 07:28:00 07:26:00
122.L*1e 07:28:00 07:26:00
123.R1fx1e 07:34:00 07:26:00
124.P1dx1e 07:34:00 07:26:00
125.K5g-6f 07:34:00 07:26:00
126.R*8f 07:34:00 07:35:00
127.+R8dx8f 07:36:00 07:35:00
128.+B5ix8f 07:36:00 07:35:00
129.R*8a 07:36:00 07:35:00
130.R*5h? 07:36:00 07:38:00
A big mistake. As pointed out by Nakahara, it was better to play 130.R*8e here. For
example, 131.R6a+ +P8h Gx8h +Bx7f Gx7f Rx8h+ and the white attack cannot be stopped.
131.R8ax8f+ 07:37:00 07:38:00
132.R5hx7h+ 07:37:00 07:38:00
133.B*9f! 07:46:00 07:38:00
This bishop holds the black position together.
134.P*8g 07:46:00 07:39:00
135.B9fx7d 07:48:00 07:39:00
Now the black king suddenly has a clear path to the other side. Watanabe must have
been kicking himself here, because it was not that he hadn't seen 133.B*9f, but for
some inexplicable reason he thought that he could play 136.G*7c after Bx7d to stop
the black king from entering. Only here he realised that black can simply play
137.B9b+ after 136.G*7c.
136.P8g-8h+ 07:48:00 07:41:00
137.+R8f-8b 07:49:00 07:41:00
138.+P8h-8g 07:49:00 07:41:00
139.L*7i 07:50:00 07:41:00
140.+R7hx7i 07:50:00 07:41:00
141.K6f-7e 07:50:00 07:41:00
142.+P8g-7g 07:50:00 07:41:00
143.K7e-8d 07:50:00 07:41:00
144.+P7gx7f 07:50:00 07:43:00
145.B7d-8c+ 07:50:00 07:43:00
146.+P7fx6g 07:50:00 07:46:00
147.P*7d 07:50:00 07:46:00
148.S*7e 07:50:00 07:57:00
149.K8d-9c 07:50:00 07:57:00
150.G*8d 07:50:00 07:57:00
151.L*8g 07:53:00 07:57:00
152.G8dx8c 07:53:00 07:58:00
153.L8gx8c+ 07:53:00 07:58:00
154.P*9a 07:53:00 07:58:00
155.+R8bx9a 07:53:00 07:58:00
156.B*5g 07:53:00 07:58:00
157.K9c-9b 07:54:00 07:58:00
158.S7e-8d 07:54:00 07:58:00
159.N*9f 07:55:00 07:58:00
160.B5gx4f+ 07:55:00 07:59:00
161.B*8b 07:57:00 07:59:00
162.+B4fx8b 07:57:00 07:59:00
163.+R9ax8b 07:57:00 07:59:00
164.B*3g 07:57:00 07:59:00
165.N*5e 07:59:00 07:59:00
166.S8d-8e 07:59:00 07:59:00
167.P7d-7c+ 07:59:00 07:59:00
168.P5dx5e 07:59:00 07:59:00
169.P*4e 07:59:00 07:59:00
170.P5ex5f 07:59:00 07:59:00
171.P4ex4d 07:59:00 07:59:00
172.G4c-3c 07:59:00 07:59:00
173.+R8bx4b 07:59:00 07:59:00
174.G3c-3b 07:59:00 07:59:00
175.+R4b-6b 07:59:00 07:59:00
176.S8e-9d 07:59:00 07:59:00
177.P*8d 07:59:00 07:59:00
Resigns 07:59:00 07:59:00
The black king has entered safely. There was some talk about black not having enough
points if white would also be able to enter, but Watanabe judged correctly that with
moves like P*1d it will not be possible for white to enter. White can only wait for
the bear to be smoked out of his hole, so Watanabe resigned here without even having
a check against his king. It was the first time for Watanabe to lose a game because
his opponent managed to make an entering king. Sato survives to live another day.
In this match he has been outplayed in all five games so far, but he is still only
3-2 behind. If he can show the resilience in this game for two games more, it is not
even unthinkable that he will take the Ryu-O crown from Watanabe.