34th Kio Match Game 2
[Black "Kubo Toshiaki, Challenger"]
[White "Sato Yasumitsu, Kio"]
[Event "34th Kio-sen, Game 2"]
[Date "February 28th 2009"]
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:00:00
3.P7f-7e 00:01:00 00:00:00
4.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:01:00
5.R2h-7h 00:03:00 00:01:00
6.P8d-8e 00:03:00 00:01:00
7.K5i-4h 00:03:00 00:01:00
8.S7a-6b 00:03:00 00:01:00
9.P7e-7d 00:12:00 00:01:00
10.G6a-7b 00:12:00 00:12:00
11.R7h-7e!? 00:25:00 00:12:00
Challenger Kubo doesn't waste much time surprising everybody (including Sato).
This is a move that is unlike anything ever played in this type of position.
Not only that, Kubo found this move all by himself, never even testing it in
practice games. This is very unusual in the professional world where professionals
study and play in groups. New moves that are tested in these study groups are kept
a secret until the one who played it first uses it in an official game. After the
game, Kubo said that he had thought of this move a few years ago and that he hoped
that many would give it a try.
12.K5a-4b 00:25:00 00:30:00
Like everybody else, Sato didn't understand the hidden meaning behind 11.R7e, but
his instincts sensed danger and he decided against the obvious 12.Px7d.
Hashimoto (7-dan), who was commenting the game, also had no clue. 12.Px7d
Rx7d S7c Rx3d seems like an obvious continuation, but nobody could find anything
leading to a favorable position for black. After the game, the players moved to
the main hall to comment the game for the public and here Kubo revealed the idea
behind 11.R7e. If white plays 12.Px7d then black has the amazing 13.R4e!!. The
point is that after 14.G3b, black can play Bx2b+ Sx2b B*5e N7c Rx4c+! Gx4c Bx2b+.
Kubo admitted that it was not completely clear if black is better here, but he
thought it was interesting enough to give it a try on the big stage. Sato was so
surprised by the move R4e that for a while he completely forgot about commenting
for the public and started a deep analysis with Kubo and Hashimoto.
13.P7dx7c+ 00:48:00 00:30:00
14.S6bx7c 00:48:00 00:33:00
15.B8hx2b+ 00:49:00 00:33:00
16.S3ax2b 00:49:00 00:33:00
17.N8i-7g 00:49:00 00:33:00
18.B*5d 00:49:00 01:36:00
19.B*5e 01:52:00 01:36:00
Here Kubo wanted to play 19.N6e, but after 20.S6d Nx5c+ Sx5c (Kx5c B*7a Gx7a Rx7a+
is good for black) B*5e S6d Rx7b+ Rx7b Bx2b+ Bx8g+ white also has good attacking
chances.
20.N2a-3c 01:52:00 01:43:00
Also not the move of choice, but after the natural 20.S3c, black has 21.N6e S6d
Bx6d Px6d S*7c! Nx7c Nx7c+ Gx7c Rx7c+ R7b +Rx7b Bx7b R*6b R*5b Rx5b+ Gx5b R*7a
which is a mating threat (with the silver still on 2b, this is not a mating threat).
Both players see exactly the same things here.
21.B5ex7c+ 02:00:00 01:43:00
22.G7bx7c 02:00:00 01:46:00
23.N7g-6e 02:00:00 01:46:00
24.B*6d 02:00:00 02:49:00
25.N6ex7c+ 02:02:00 02:49:00
26.N8ax7c 02:02:00 02:49:00
27.R7e-7d 02:02:00 02:49:00
28.B5dx2g+ 02:02:00 02:49:00
29.S*7e 02:25:00 02:49:00
30.N7c-6e! 02:25:00 03:02:00
Kubo is not the only one playing boldly in this game. This just opens up the
black rook for promotion. However, Sato didn't have much choice. After 30.B5e
S6f B6d G*5e (or S3h +B5d P5f Bx9i+ Rx7c+) white doesn't seem to get a chance
to take over the attack. After 30.N6e there is no turning back and the game
enters the final stage. And that after only 30 moves...
31.S7ex6d 02:40:00 03:02:00
32.N6ex5g+ 02:40:00 03:04:00
33.K4hx5g 02:42:00 03:04:00
34.+B2gx4i 02:42:00 03:04:00
35.R7d-7a+ 02:51:00 03:04:00
36.R8b-9b 02:51:00 03:17:00
37.S6dx5c+ 03:31:00 03:17:00
The position is still very much unclear and maybe even favoring white here.
Kubo felt that he had no choice but to put his fate in the lap of the gods here.
37.N*5d Px5d G*5c wins after K3a P*5b, but after K3b white survives. Also,
37.Sx6c+ N*4e K6h P*7f wins for white.
38.K4bx5c 03:31:00 03:17:00
39.+R7ax4a 03:41:00 03:17:00
Or 39.P*5d K4b and even though black can keep giving check for a while, it
is not enough.
40.+B4ix3i? 03:41:00 03:54:00
Sato spent 37 minutes on a number of moves here: N*6e, N*4e, P*5f Kx5f P*5e
and +Bx3i. He only played 40.+Bx3i after rejecting 40.N*6e and 40.N*4e because
of K5f and 40.P*5f Kx5f P*5e because of Kx5e S*5d K4f. However, he completely
missed 40.P*5f Kx5f N*6d! which wins for black after K6f +Bx3i P*5g S*7e! (not
S*6e or G*7f) Kx7e +Bx5g G*6f P*7d Kx7d P*7c and mate. Therefore, black cannot
take the silver on 7e and must move the king to 7g instead which is answered by
+Bx5g which is a mating threat. After the game Sato was kicking himself for
spending so much time here without finding the right variation.
41.K5g-6h 03:42:00 03:54:00
42.G*5f 03:42:00 03:54:00
43.K6h-7h 03:46:00 03:54:00
44.P*7g 03:46:00 03:54:00
45.K7h-8i 03:46:00 03:54:00
Here Kubo finally felt that he would win this game. Still, it could have been
more difficult than it was...
46.G5fx6g 03:46:00 03:54:00
47.B*7f! 03:54:00 03:54:00
Sato admitted after the game that he had completely overlooked this move which
is a mating threat defending against a mating threat. He thought that black had
to play 47.G*7f, after which he intended to play R7b.
48.S*7h 03:54:00 03:55:00
49.K8i-8h 03:54:00 03:55:00
50.P*5d 03:54:00 03:59:00
51.+R4a-5a 03:54:00 03:59:00
52.R9b-5b 03:54:00 03:59:00
53.N*6e 03:54:00 03:59:00
54.K5c-6d 03:54:00 03:59:00
55.+R5ax5b 03:54:00 03:59:00
56.S7hx6i=? 03:54:00 03:59:00
Now the game is over instantly. If Sato had played 56.+B5g which is mating threat
while there is no mate against the white king, things would still have been difficult
for black.
57.G*7d 03:55:00 03:59:00
Resigns 03:55:00 03:59:00
This is now quite a straightforward mate, so Sato resigned. A game with only 57
moves (which is a record low for the Kio tournament), but very exciting stuff where
both players went all out from the beginning. Kubo wins to take a 2-0 lead and now
has three chances to capture his first major title.