58th Oza Match Game 1

[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Oza"]
[White "Fujii Takeshi, Challenger"]
[Event "58th Oza-sen, Game 1"]
[Date "September 9th 2010"]
1.P7g-7f     00:00:00  00:00:00

Habu has won 18 consecutive Oza titles, with the last five of them ending in straight 
3-0 victories. An amazing record and definitely something that will have been on Fujii's 
mind before this match. But then again, every winning streak has to end somewhere and 
with the score all blank before the first game, anything is possible. Fujii did lose the 
first little contest, as three pawns resulted from the furigoma, giving Habu the black 
pieces.

2.P3c-3d     00:00:00  00:01:00
3.P2g-2f     00:01:00  00:01:00
4.R8b-4b     00:01:00  00:02:00
5.S3i-4h     00:03:00  00:02:00
6.K5a-6b     00:03:00  00:07:00
7.K5i-6h     00:06:00  00:07:00
8.B2bx8h+    00:06:00  00:09:00

Fujii is famous for reviving the Furibisha with the Fujii System, but recently he has 
been changing his style a little, playing both Furibisha and Ibisha. Like almost all 
of the top players he is trying to become an all-round player, and his possible choice 
of opening had been discussed extensively before the start of this game. Anything 
seemed possible, but playing this Furibisha opening came as a surprise. Fujii has 
played the early bishop exchange on numerous occasions, but he has a unusual number 
of crushing defeats in this opening, which doesn't seem to fit his temperament well.

9.S7ix8h     00:07:00  00:09:00
10.K6b-7b    00:07:00  00:09:00
11.K6h-7h    00:20:00  00:09:00
12.S3a-2b    00:20:00  00:10:00
13.S8h-7g    00:24:00  00:10:00
14.P3d-3e    00:24:00  00:35:00

Diagram 1

This is what Fujii had prepared for the first game. The plan is to play S3c followed 
by R2b next. After that the counter attack on the 2nd file is very strong, so black 
cannot play this position quietly.

15.P4g-4f    00:48:00  00:35:00

Habu admitted after the game that this was probably risky, but there doesn't seem 
to be much of an alternative. After 15.P2e S3c it is even easier for white to counter 
on the second file, especially because black cannot support the pawn on 2e with a 
knight on 3g because white has pushed the pawn to 3e early.

16.P4c-4d    00:48:00  00:47:00

White doesn't hesitate to attack the 4th file.

17.P2f-2e    00:52:00  00:47:00
18.P4d-4e    00:52:00  01:00:00

White pushes on. Here 18.S3c would be a mistake because of 19.B*5f and black both 
defends against the pawn exchange on 4e and puts more pressure on the 2nd file. 
After 18.P4e, both sides get the pawn exchanges that they aimed for.

19.P4fx4e    00:58:00  01:00:00
20.R4bx4e    00:58:00  01:00:00
21.P2e-2d    01:05:00  01:00:00
22.P2cx2d    01:05:00  01:00:00
23.R2hx2d    01:05:00  01:00:00
24.G4a-3b    01:05:00  01:03:00
25.G4i-5h    01:08:00  01:03:00

Diagram 2

26.G6a-6b    01:08:00  01:53:00

Fujii looked long and hard at 26.N3c before finally settling for strengthening 
the castle with 26.G6b. The plan after 26.N3c is easy, because white threatens 
to trap the rook with P*2e next. Black seems to be in a little trouble, but after 
27.B*3d! R4a P*2c S3a Bx6a+ Kx6a G*2b white has to play the double edged B*1e. Driving 
back the rook is important and after R2h P*2g followed by P*2f it seems like white can 
keep his position together and cash in on the material advantage. However, dropping 
the bishop on 1e makes this bishop a liability and the white position is so disorganized 
that a minor mistake could mean disaster. This is especially likely in a one day title 
match game, so Fujii decided against this.

27.P1g-1f    01:22:00  01:53:00

Now B*1e is no longer possible in the variation above. However, this pawn push also 
has a different meaning.

28.N2a-3c    01:22:00  02:12:00
29.B*5f!     01:33:00  02:12:00

Diagram 3

This bishop is very well positioned. Not only for an attack on the second file, but 
it also supports an attack on the first file after P1e followed by P1d.

30.R4e-4b    01:33:00  02:23:00
31.P*2c      01:49:00  02:23:00

In the press room the alternative 31.B6e was analyzed, which looks good because the 
threat Bx3b+ followed by G*4c seems hard to defend against. However, after 32.B*5d 
Bx5d Px5d Rx5d R4a! is a subtle move which stops the black attack.

32.S2b-3a    01:49:00  02:24:00
33.P1f-1e    01:54:00  02:24:00
34.P3e-3f    01:54:00  02:27:00
35.P*4g      01:56:00  02:27:00
36.N3c-4e    01:56:00  02:54:00
37.R2d-2e    02:06:00  02:54:00
38.P*2h      02:06:00  03:14:00
39.B5fx4e    02:24:00  03:14:00
40.P2hx2i+   02:24:00  03:23:00
41.B4ex3f    02:25:00  03:23:00

Diagram 4

42.+P2ix1i?  02:25:00  03:50:00

An important mistake that is caused by an oversight much later in the game. Correct 
was 42.P*3e and only after the rook moves away from the second file with 43.Rx3e, 
white plays 44.Px1i+ which leads to a difficult position. For example, 45.P2b+ Sx2b 
N*3d R4a Nx2b+ Gx2b P*2c B*4d! or 45.N*3d R4c Nx2b+ B*1g and white seems to have 
chances to counter attack.

43.P2c-2b+   02:34:00  03:50:00
44.G3bx2b    02:34:00  04:05:00
45.N*3d      02:38:00  04:05:00
46.R4b-3b    02:38:00  04:05:00
47.N3dx2b+   02:38:00  04:05:00
48.R3bx2b    02:38:00  04:05:00
49.R2ex2b+   02:58:00  04:05:00
50.S3ax2b    02:58:00  04:05:00
51.R*3b      02:59:00  04:05:00
52.R*2i      02:59:00  04:06:00
53.G*5b      03:11:00  04:06:00

Diagram 5

54.N*8e      03:11:00  04:27:00

Here Fujii realized that he had made a mistake. His original plan was to play 54.N*5d 
here. This looks like a very good move because it is blocking the diagonal of the black 
bishop to the king and at the same time helps to attack the black king. However, after 
54.N*5d black has the strong 55.Gx5c and after 56.N*6f Sx6f Nx6f K7g there is a mating 
threat against the white king so white loses. The alternatives to 54.N*8e are 54.L*6a 
but this fails to 55.P*2g (threatening to take the silver on 2b) or 54.B*4c which seems 
unclear after 55.Gx6b Sx6b G*8b K6a R4b+ B1f, but in the post-mortem analysis no variations 
were found that were actually winning for white.

55.G5h-6h    03:43:00  04:27:00

The problem. Black now has a strong castle and can go for the knight on 8e. An extra 
knight would give the black attack decisive strength.

56.L*6a      03:43:00  04:34:00
57.S7g-8f    03:57:00  04:34:00
58.P*3e      03:57:00  04:55:00
59.B3f-4e    04:06:00  04:55:00
60.B*2c      04:06:00  04:55:00
61.G5bx6b    04:12:00  04:55:00
62.S7ax6b    04:12:00  04:55:00
63.R3bx3e+   04:14:00  04:55:00
64.B2cx4e    04:14:00  04:56:00
65.+R3ex4e   04:14:00  04:56:00
66.B*3c      04:14:00  04:56:00
67.G*4d      04:27:00  04:56:00
68.G*5d      04:27:00  04:56:00
69.G4dx5d    04:33:00  04:56:00
70.B3cx9i+   04:33:00  04:56:00
71.B*4d      04:36:00  04:56:00
72.N*7g      04:36:00  04:58:00
73.N8ix7g    04:39:00  04:58:00
74.L*4b      04:39:00  04:59:00
75.+R4ex8e   04:40:00  04:59:00
76.L4bx4d    04:40:00  04:59:00
77.N*7e      04:40:00  04:59:00
Resigns      04:40:00  04:59:00

Final Diagram

White has been struggling to make something out of nothing for a while, but finally 
Habu has been given the time to drop the knight and end the game. The simple threat 
is Nx8c+ and mate, but there is no proper defense. For example, 78.B*9d leads to mate 
after 79.Nx8c+ Bx8c +Rx8c Kx8c N*7e etc. Also, white's only check is 78.B*8i, but there 
is no follow-up after 79.K7i. No defense and no mate, so Fujii resigned here. This adds 
another loss in a short game in this opening for Fujii and adds another win to Habu's 
winning streak in the Oza which now stands at seventeen. Still, every loss only counts 
as one so Fujii will get a chance with the black pieces to even the match in game 2.