53rd Oi Match Game 1 (Replay)

[Black "Fujii Takeshi, Challenger"]
[White "Habu Yoshiharu, Oi"]
[Event "53rd Oi-sen, Replay Game 1"]
[Date "July 11th 2012"]
1.P7g-7f     06:22:00  00:00:00
2.P3c-3d     06:22:00  05:53:00
3.P6g-6f     06:22:00  05:53:00
4.P8c-8d     06:22:00  05:53:00
5.R2h-6h     06:22:00  05:53:00
6.S7a-6b     06:22:00  05:53:00
7.P1g-1f     06:22:00  05:53:00
8.K5a-4b     06:22:00  05:53:00
9.S3i-3h     06:24:00  05:53:00
10.K4b-3b    06:24:00  05:53:00
11.S7i-7h    06:24:00  05:53:00
12.P5c-5d    06:24:00  05:53:00
13.S7h-6g    06:24:00  05:53:00
14.G6a-5b    06:24:00  05:53:00
15.G6i-5h    06:24:00  05:53:00

As far as opening strategy is concerned, a replay of the first game of a title 
match is not a big problem for the players. Because black and white is decided 
by furigoma anyway, both players need to prepare something for black or white. 
Fujii obviously has prepared the Fujii system when black and Habu will have 
prepared something against that. Therefore, the opening of this replay is played 
very quickly.

16.S6b-5c    06:24:00  05:53:00
17.P4g-4f    06:27:00  05:53:00
18.P8d-8e    06:27:00  05:54:00
19.B8h-7g    06:27:00  05:54:00
20.P7c-7d    06:27:00  05:55:00
21.K5i-4h    06:27:00  05:55:00
22.B2b-5e    06:27:00  05:56:00

Diagram 1

23.P4f-4e    06:27:00  05:56:00

This is the first time Fujii has played this move, making clear that this is his 
opening preparation. In the past, he has only played 23.G4g after which 24.P7e Px7e 
Sx6d is the usual way of playing, with white playing a quick attack.

24.P1c-1d    06:27:00  06:04:00
25.K4h-3i    06:28:00  06:04:00
26.S3a-2b    06:28:00  06:04:00
27.K3i-2h    06:32:00  06:04:00
28.P2c-2d    06:32:00  06:09:00
29.R6h-7h    06:33:00  06:09:00
30.B5e-3c    06:33:00  06:17:00
31.P5g-5f    06:35:00  06:17:00
32.P2d-2e    06:35:00  06:30:00

Diagram 2

Here 32.S2c would be the normal move, but then 33.L9h K2b P7e Px7e P6e is good for 
black because after Bx7g+ Rx7g black has some good squares to later drop the bishop, 
like 4f or 6f. Pushing the pawn to 2e here combined with a silver on 2b is not a very well-balanced shape, and Fujii said after the game that he was happy with his position 
here.

33.G5h-4g    06:43:00  06:30:00
34.P6c-6d    06:43:00  06:32:00
35.P3g-3f    06:45:00  06:32:00
36.S2b-2c    06:45:00  06:35:00
37.N2i-3g    06:45:00  06:35:00
38.G4a-4b    06:45:00  06:35:00
39.L9i-9h    06:46:00  06:35:00
40.P9c-9d    06:46:00  06:37:00
41.P9g-9f    06:46:00  06:37:00
42.L1a-1b!   06:46:00  06:45:00

Diagram 3

Looks like a simple waiting move, but it has a hidden meaning that will become clear 
soon.

43.B7g-6h    06:52:00  06:45:00

After 43.S5h R7b B8h R8b B7g we might have had another sennichite. However, Fujii 
liked his position and decides to go for it.

44.P8e-8f    06:52:00  06:49:00

White cannot wait any longer because after another waiting move, black can play P7e 
and clearly gets the better position.

45.P8gx8f    06:52:00  06:49:00
46.P6d-6e    06:52:00  06:49:00
47.P6fx6e    06:52:00  06:49:00
48.B3c-9i+   06:52:00  06:49:00
49.N8i-9g    06:52:00  06:49:00

The point of 42.L1b becomes clear now. If black plays 49.B7g here, there is no lance 
on 1a, so white can just take the knight with 50.+Bx8i.

50.+B9i-8i   06:52:00  06:57:00

Diagram 4

White had promoted the bishop and black seems to be in trouble, but Fujii was not 
really worried here. After the game he said that he had experience with this type 
of position and that he thought that black had good chances here.

51.N9g-8e?   07:06:00  06:57:00

This is an important mistake that spoils all the good opening play that Fujii has 
shown in both the game that ended in sennichite and this replay. Correct was 51.P7e 
and if white responds with 52.R6b then 53.B4f Rx6e P*6f +Bx7h Sx7h Rx7e P*7i! is a 
strong defense. White has no fast attack and black has moves like B*7b so black seems 
to have the upper hand here. Also, after 51.P7e Px7e black can again play the solid 
P*7i and in the post-mortem analysis Habu said that he had no idea what to play next.

52.R8b-6b!   07:06:00  06:58:00

This rook now enters the fighting area strongly, tipping the balance in white's favor.

53.B6h-4f    07:06:00  06:58:00
54.R6bx6e    07:06:00  07:01:00
55.P*6f      07:07:00  07:01:00
56.+B8ix7h   07:07:00  07:01:00
57.S6gx7h    07:07:00  07:01:00
58.R6ex6f    07:07:00  07:01:00

This rook is very strong. Another reason 51.N8e was wrong is that after Rx7f and Rx8f 
next, the knight on 8e can be taken as well. To avoid this, Fujii has to take some 
strong measures.

59.P5f-5e    07:07:00  07:01:00
60.P1d-1e    07:07:00  07:06:00
61.P5ex5d    07:08:00  07:06:00
62.S5cx5d    07:08:00  07:06:00
63.B4fx9a+   07:15:00  07:06:00
64.R6f-6h+   07:15:00  07:14:00
65.B*8g      07:35:00  07:14:00

This would have not been a bad position for the bishop if black had a pawn on 7e 
instead of a knight on 8e. Enough reasons for Fujii to say after the game that 
51.N8e was the losing move.

66.P1ex1f    07:35:00  07:15:00
67.P*6i      07:37:00  07:15:00
68.P1f-1g+   07:37:00  07:18:00
69.K2h-3i    07:37:00  07:18:00

Diagram 5

70.+R6h-6a!  07:37:00  07:20:00

Fujii has done everything to make it difficult for white with B*8g followed by P*6i, 
but with 70.+R6a Habu shows that he is in no hurry to win the game. Habu is famous for 
his magical endgame skills, but recently he has turned himself into an Oyama-like 
player who is happy to take away all of his opponents options and win slowly. Fujii 
struggles for a while, but it is to no avail.

71.P*1c      07:40:00  07:20:00
72.L1bx1c    07:40:00  07:22:00
73.N3gx2e    07:40:00  07:22:00
74.P*1h      07:40:00  07:23:00
75.P7f-7e    07:41:00  07:23:00
76.P*5c      07:41:00  07:26:00
77.+B9a-4f   07:45:00  07:26:00
78.P1hx1i+   07:45:00  07:32:00
79.L*6d      07:46:00  07:32:00
80.P*6c      07:46:00  07:35:00
81.P*5e      07:48:00  07:35:00
82.S5dx5e    07:48:00  07:37:00
83.+B4fx5e   07:48:00  07:37:00
84.L*5d      07:48:00  07:37:00
85.+B5ex1i   07:49:00  07:37:00
86.P*2f      07:49:00  07:38:00
87.P2gx2f    07:53:00  07:38:00
88.P*2g      07:53:00  07:38:00
89.N2ex1c+   07:53:00  07:38:00
90.P2g-2h+   07:53:00  07:41:00
91.+B1ix2h   07:53:00  07:41:00
92.+P1gx2h   07:53:00  07:41:00
93.K3ix2h    07:53:00  07:41:00
94.N2ax1c    07:53:00  07:41:00
95.L*1i      07:53:00  07:41:00
96.P*1d      07:53:00  07:42:00
97.P*5e      07:53:00  07:42:00
98.P6cx6d    07:53:00  07:49:00
99.P5ex5d    07:53:00  07:49:00
100.P6d-6e   07:53:00  07:49:00
Resigns      07:53:00  07:49:00

Final Diagram 1

There is no immediate mate, but black has only one major piece, which is now 
completely boxed in. Also, the promoted rook on 6a takes away all of the black 
attacking options, so Fujii saw no way to get back into this game and resigned 
here. For Fujii, a disappointing end to two games well played, but if he keeps 
up his superior opening play, this may become an intriguing match.