63rd Meijin Match Game 5
[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger"]
[White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Meijin"]
[Event "63rd Meijin-sen, Game 5"]
[Date "June 2nd and 3rd 2005"]
1.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:04:00
3.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:04:00
4.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:04:00
5.P2f-2e 00:03:00 00:04:00
6.P8d-8e 00:03:00 00:04:00
7.G6i-7h 00:11:00 00:04:00
8.G4a-3b 00:11:00 00:04:00
9.P2e-2d 00:13:00 00:04:00
10.P2cx2d 00:13:00 00:04:00
11.R2hx2d 00:13:00 00:04:00
12.P8e-8f 00:13:00 00:06:00
13.P8gx8f 00:15:00 00:06:00
14.R8bx8f 00:15:00 00:06:00
15.R2dx3d 00:26:00 00:06:00
16.B2bx8h+ 00:26:00 00:09:00
17.S7ix8h 00:28:00 00:09:00
18.R8fx7f 00:28:00 00:09:00
A big surprise. The Double Yokofudori is rare at this level. Actually,
it is the first time that this opening has been played in a Meijin match.
Recently, Miura (8-dan) has been giving it a try, but the general opinion
is that it gives black the easier position.
19.S8h-7g 02:00:00 00:09:00
20.R7f-7d 02:00:00 00:25:00
21.R3dx7d 02:01:00 00:25:00
22.P7cx7d 02:01:00 00:25:00
23.B*4f 02:01:00 00:25:00
24.P*8f 02:01:00 00:36:00
This is what Moriuchi wanted to try, but we will probably never know what
his real intentions were. In Habu's opening book series "Habu's Brain", the
move 24.P*8f is also given and Habu concludes that after 25.P*8h P8g+ Px8g
P*8b G3h black has the better position. Black has won a pawn and forced white
to drop a pawn on 8b. Also, black can start an edge attack with P9f next.
This was written 10 years ago, so there might be something with this variation
that Moriuchi liked. Habu doesn't wait for it...
25.S7gx8f! 02:15:00 00:36:00
If this game is a good indication, this might be better than P*8h.
26.B*7c 02:15:00 02:26:00
27.B4fx7c+ 03:23:00 02:26:00
28.N8ax7c 03:23:00 02:26:00
29.S8f-7g 03:23:00 02:26:00
30.K5a-5b 03:23:00 02:31:00
31.R*8a 03:37:00 02:31:00
32.R*8e 03:37:00 03:58:00
This looks good, as white can move the knight out with tempo. However, Habu
has judged correctly that this knight on 8e is going to be a liability.
However, after 32.R*8b Rx8b+ Sx8b P*8c S7a R*8a white is even worse, because
black has managed to make a dangling pawn with tempo.
33.R8ax8e+ 03:53:00 03:58:00
34.N7cx8e 03:53:00 03:58:00
35.S7g-8h 03:53:00 03:58:00
36.P*8g 03:53:00 05:24:00
37.S8h-7i 03:59:00 05:24:00
Moriuchi has been using a lot of time here, but there is nothing for white to
improve the position. White is attacking, but the knight on 8e has no power.
It would have been a different story if the knight would have been on 6e.
38.B*4d 03:59:00 05:30:00
39.P6g-6f! 05:37:00 05:30:00
Seems to open up the king position, but this is an important move, because
after Bx6f, black can attack strongly with P*6d. The alternative 39.P*7g is
not good because of 40.Nx7g+ Nx7g Bx7g+! Gx7g R*8i which is hard to defend.
The bishop sacrifice is easy to overlook, but Habu has seen it.
40.P*2h 05:37:00 06:03:00
41.S3ix2h 05:41:00 06:03:00
42.B4dx6f 05:41:00 06:03:00
43.P*6d 05:43:00 06:03:00
44.B6fx9i+ 05:43:00 06:13:00
45.P6dx6c+ 06:08:00 06:13:00
46.K5bx6c 06:08:00 06:13:00
47.P*6d 06:10:00 06:13:00
48.K6c-5d 06:10:00 06:37:00
No choice. 48.K5b fails to 49.B*6c K4b R*4a, 48.K6b to 49.R*6c K5b Rx6a+ Kx6a
P6c+ and 48.Kx6d to 49.B*4f K6c B*9a+ (threatening L*6d) K5b P*6b Sx6b P*6c
and black can use the lance at either 6d or cut off the king with L*3f. 48.K5d
might be the best move, but the difference in king position shows who is
winning here.
49.B*6c 06:39:00 06:37:00
50.K5d-4d 06:39:00 07:29:00
51.R*2d 06:39:00 07:29:00
52.P*3d 06:39:00 07:31:00
53.R2dx2a+ 06:40:00 07:31:00
54.+B9ix8i 06:40:00 07:32:00
55.N*3f 06:57:00 07:32:00
56.K4d-5e 06:57:00 07:33:00
57.+R2ax3b 06:57:00 07:33:00
58.S3ax3b 06:57:00 08:44:00
59.B6cx7d+ 06:57:00 08:44:00
The winning move.
60.+B8ix7h 06:57:00 08:44:00
Moriuchi decided to go out in a blaze of glory. 60.N*4d prolongs the agony,
but 61.N*2d or 61.P5f Nx5f G*4f followed by Gx5f win easily for black.
61.S7ix7h 06:57:00 08:44:00
62.G*6h 06:57:00 08:48:00
63.K5i-4h 07:16:00 08:48:00
64.R*5h 07:16:00 08:48:00
65.G4ix5h 07:16:00 08:48:00
66.G6hx5h 07:16:00 08:48:00
67.K4hx5h 07:16:00 08:48:00
68.N*6f 07:16:00 08:48:00
69.K5h-6g 07:16:00 08:48:00
Resigns 07:16:00 08:48:00
Clearly no mate and even if white picks up the promoted bishop on 7d after
70.G*7g Sx7g Nx7g+ Kx7g R*7h K8f Rx7d+, the white king is mated after B*4f and
G*5e. A convincing win by Habu to stop the rot after three consecutive losses.
With his back against the wall he delivers, but he will need two more of this
to take the Meijin title from Moriuchi, who is playing with the black pieces
in game 6.