53rd Oi Match Game 1

[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Oi"]
[White "Fujii Takeshi, Challenger"]
[Event "53rd Oi-sen, Game 1"]
[Date "July 10th and 11th 2012"]
1.P7g-7f     00:00:00  00:00:00
2.P3c-3d     00:00:00  00:01:00
3.P2g-2f     00:03:00  00:01:00
4.R8b-4b     00:03:00  00:04:00
5.S3i-4h     00:07:00  00:04:00
6.K5a-6b     00:07:00  00:08:00
7.K5i-6h     00:11:00  00:08:00
8.B2bx8h+    00:11:00  00:12:00

Recently, Fujii is playing this often. The exchange of the bishop loses a move, 
but it is difficult for black to attack the closed white position. It is especially 
suited for Fujii's style, who is very good at putting his pieces in the right places 
in the opening.

9.S7ix8h     00:11:00  00:12:00
10.K6b-7b    00:11:00  00:13:00
11.K6h-7h    00:13:00  00:13:00
12.S3a-2b    00:13:00  00:32:00
13.S8h-7g    00:27:00  00:32:00
14.S2b-3c    00:27:00  01:07:00
15.G4i-5h    00:54:00  01:07:00
16.P2c-2d    00:54:00  01:51:00
17.P4g-4f    01:53:00  01:51:00
18.R4b-2b    01:53:00  02:09:00
19.S4h-4g    01:59:00  02:09:00
20.K7b-8b    01:59:00  02:14:00
21.S4g-5f    02:29:00  02:14:00
22.S7a-7b    02:29:00  02:46:00
23.P9g-9f    02:35:00  02:46:00
24.G4a-5b    02:35:00  03:04:00
25.P7f-7e    03:10:00  03:04:00
26.P3d-3e    03:10:00  03:29:00
27.K7h-8h    03:17:00  03:29:00
28.S3c-4b    03:17:00  03:31:00

White also has the option of going for an exchange of rooks with S3d followed by 
P2e, but this is very difficult to judge correctly. Also, we are getting close 
to the end of the first day, which makes such a big decision even more difficult 
because it will completely decide play on the second day. As often happens in 
two-day games, Fujii decides to delay the important decisions until the second day.

29.P7e-7d    03:33:00  03:31:00
30.P5c-5d    03:33:00  03:32:00
31.P7dx7c+   04:09:00  03:32:00

The sealed move.

32.S7bx7c    04:09:00  03:34:00
33.G6i-7h    04:09:00  03:34:00
34.S4b-5c    04:09:00  03:40:00
35.P6g-6f    04:14:00  03:40:00
36.P6c-6d    04:14:00  04:06:00
37.P1g-1f    04:19:00  04:06:00
38.G6a-7b    04:19:00  04:12:00
39.P1f-1e!   04:20:00  04:12:00

Fujii has played the opening very well and black has no good plan to attack the 
white position. Habu is waiting for a chance, while taking away the white options. 
White wants to play P5e followed by S5d here to make a very strong vanguard pawn 
position in the center. However, after 39.P1e P5e P1d Px1d P*1b then both Rx1b P2e 
or Lx1b B*1a R3b Bx5e+ are good for black.

40.G5b-6c    04:20:00  04:20:00

Diagram 1

Actually, Fujii was surprised that he could not play P5e here, but he saw it in 
time to change his plans.

41.S5f-6g    04:25:00  04:20:00
42.S5c-6b    04:25:00  05:01:00
43.P9f-9e    04:45:00  05:01:00
44.P3e-3f    04:45:00  05:27:00
45.P3gx3f    04:54:00  05:27:00
46.P*3h      04:54:00  05:27:00
47.B*1f      05:34:00  05:27:00
48.P3h-3i+   05:34:00  05:30:00
49.B1fx4c+   05:34:00  05:30:00
50.+P3ix2i   05:34:00  06:17:00
51.R2hx2i    05:34:00  06:17:00
52.B*3h      05:34:00  06:22:00
53.R2i-3i    05:39:00  06:22:00
54.B3h-2g+   05:39:00  06:22:00

White has won a knight and seems to be in the driving seat. However, Habu has 
found a way to escape.

55.+B4c-4d   05:40:00  06:22:00
56.R2b-1b    05:40:00  06:22:00
57.+B4d-4c   05:53:00  06:22:00
58.R1b-2b    05:53:00  06:22:00

This leads to sennichite. If white wants to try and avoid this, his only option 
seems 58.+B2h but after 59.R7i R2b +B4d R3b +Bx1a Rx3f the position is not clear, 
so Fujii decided to take his chances with black in the replay.

59.+B4c-4d   05:53:00  06:22:00
60.R2b-1b    05:53:00  06:22:00
61.+B4d-4c   05:53:00  06:22:00
62.R1b-2b    05:53:00  06:22:00
63.+B4c-4d   05:53:00  06:22:00
64.R2b-1b    05:53:00  06:22:00
65.+B4d-4c   05:53:00  06:22:00
66.R1b-2b    05:53:00  06:22:00
Sennichite   05:53:00  06:22:00

Sennichite Diagram

Both players will be a little disappointed with sennichite. Fujii because he seems 
to have had a good position with white and Habu because he was unable to get anything 
going with the black pieces.