53rd Osho Match Game 2 (Replay)

[Black "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger"]
[White "Habu Yoshiharu, Osho"]
[Event "53rd Osho-sen, Replay Game 2"]
[Date "January 30th 2004"]
1.P7g-7f     05:57:00  00:00:00
2.P3c-3d     05:57:00  06:00:00
3.P2g-2f     05:57:00  06:00:00
4.P8c-8d     05:57:00  06:00:00
5.P2f-2e     05:57:00  06:00:00
6.P8d-8e     05:57:00  06:00:00
7.G6i-7h     05:57:00  06:00:00
8.G4a-3b     05:57:00  06:00:00
9.P2e-2d     05:57:00  06:00:00
10.P2cx2d    05:57:00  06:00:00
11.R2hx2d    05:57:00  06:00:00
12.P8e-8f    05:57:00  06:00:00
13.P8gx8f    05:57:00  06:00:00
14.R8bx8f    05:57:00  06:00:00
15.R2dx3d    05:57:00  06:00:00
16.B2b-3c    05:57:00  06:00:00
17.R3d-3f    05:57:00  06:00:00
18.S3a-2b    05:57:00  06:00:00
19.P*8g      05:58:00  06:00:00
20.R8f-8e    05:58:00  06:00:00

The opening for the replay is no surprise. Habu plays the R8e 
Yokofudori, the opening with the highest winning percentage for white.

21.R3f-2f    05:58:00  06:00:00
22.K5a-4a    05:58:00  06:00:00
23.K5i-5h    05:58:00  06:00:00
24.S7a-6b    05:58:00  06:01:00
25.P3g-3f    05:58:00  06:01:00
26.G6a-5a    05:58:00  06:01:00
27.S3i-3h    05:58:00  06:01:00
28.P7c-7d    05:58:00  06:02:00
29.P3f-3e    05:58:00  06:02:00
30.R8ex3e    05:58:00  06:03:00
31.B8hx3c+   05:58:00  06:03:00
32.N2ax3c    05:58:00  06:03:00
33.B*4f      05:58:00  06:03:00
34.P*2e      05:58:00  06:03:00
35.R2f-1f    05:58:00  06:03:00
36.R3e-3d    05:58:00  06:03:00
37.P*3e      05:58:00  06:03:00
38.R3d-4d    05:58:00  06:03:00
39.B4fx9a+   05:58:00  06:03:00
40.N8a-7c    05:58:00  06:03:00
41.P7f-7e    05:58:00  06:03:00
42.B*2h      05:58:00  06:03:00
43.P7ex7d    06:03:00  06:03:00
44.R4dx7d    06:03:00  06:03:00
45.+B9a-9b   06:03:00  06:03:00
46.R7d-5d    06:03:00  06:03:00
47.N2i-3g    06:03:00  06:03:00
48.B2hx1i+   06:03:00  06:03:00
49.P3e-3d    06:05:00  06:03:00
50.R5dx3d    06:05:00  06:11:00
51.+B9b-5f   06:05:00  06:11:00
52.R3dx3g+   06:05:00  06:11:00
53.S3hx3g    06:05:00  06:11:00
54.+B1ix3g   06:05:00  06:11:00
55.P*2c      06:13:00  06:11:00
56.S2bx2c    06:13:00  06:18:00
57.L*3i      07:04:00  06:18:00
58.+B3g-2g   07:04:00  06:30:00
59.P*3d      07:07:00  06:30:00
60.S*6i      07:07:00  06:48:00
61.K5h-5i?   07:26:00  06:48:00

An important mistake that turns the game in Habu's favor. 61.Kx6i was 
the only move. Then 62.+Bx4i S*5i Sx3d Lx3d L*7e +B6f Lx7h+ Sx7h is 
good for black because the promoted bishop on 6f works both in attack 
and defense (covering the important square 8h). Lx3c+ next is a big 
threat. It seems like Moriuchi did not like 62.+Bx4i S*5i L*5h!. There 
was no clear conclusion on this move, but if this is bad for black, he 
can also try 62.+Bx4i G7g to open an escape for the king. Then Sx3d 
+Bx3d +Bx1f Px1f R*4i S*5i Rx3i+ S*2c P*3a leads to an unclear position.

62.+B2gx4i   07:26:00  07:00:00
63.K5ix4i    07:26:00  07:00:00
64.G*5h      07:26:00  07:00:00
65.K4i-3h    07:26:00  07:00:00

The important difference: the black king is now blocking the lance 
on 3i.

66.S6ix7h+   07:26:00  07:00:00
67.R*2a      07:35:00  07:00:00
68.P*3a      07:35:00  07:27:00
69.P3dx3c+   07:40:00  07:27:00
70.G3bx3c    07:40:00  07:27:00
71.K3h-2h?   07:50:00  07:27:00

The losing move. Moriuchi's final chance was 71.B*2b and after 72.G3b 
he can either try 73.R3f or 73.Sx7h. For example 1) 73.R3f K5b +Bx2c 
Gx2c R3fx3a+ L*3d P*3e B*4h S*3g B5i+ N*7d N*4a +Rx4a Gx4a Nx6b+ Kx6b 
Rx4a+ Bx3g+ Kx3g Lx3e and it is still a question who is mating who. 
Or 2) 73.Sx7h L*3d K2h Lx3i+ which is also not completely clear. 
If this variation is playable for black, then 71.Sx7h instead of 
B*2b might also be an option.

72.L*2f      07:50:00  07:36:00
73.N*2g      07:50:00  07:36:00

Painful. Black has no pawns in hand to defend against the check.

74.N*2d      07:50:00  07:38:00
75.R1f-1e    07:52:00  07:38:00
76.L2fx2g+   07:52:00  07:49:00
77.K2hx2g    07:52:00  07:49:00
78.+S7hx7i   07:52:00  07:49:00
79.R1ex2e    07:57:00  07:49:00
80.P*2f      07:57:00  07:50:00
81.R2ex2f    07:57:00  07:50:00
82.N*1e      07:57:00  07:50:00
83.K2g-3g    07:57:00  07:50:00
84.G*3e      07:57:00  07:51:00
85.+B5fx2c   07:59:00  07:51:00
86.G3cx2c    07:59:00  07:51:00
87.R2ax2c+   07:59:00  07:51:00
88.B*1i      07:59:00  07:53:00
89.P*2h      07:59:00  07:53:00
90.S*3f      07:59:00  07:53:00
91.K3g-3h    07:59:00  07:53:00
92.N1e-2g+   07:59:00  07:53:00
Resigns      07:59:00  07:53:00

Mate after 93.Px2g S3g+ K2i B2h+ or 93.Rx2g Sx2g+ Kx2g R*2f K1h 
Rx2h+. A big win for Habu, who stops the rot after losing 5 title 
match games in a row against Moriuchi. Hopefully this is the prelude 
to a tight match full of exciting shogi.