66th Meijin Match Game 3
[Black "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Meijin"]
[White "Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger"]
[Event "66th Meijin-sen, Game 3"]
[Date "May 8th and 9th 2008"]
1.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:00:00
Like in the first game, Moriuchi started with 1.P2f, but this time Habu plays 2.P8d
instead of 2.P3d.
3.P2f-2e 00:03:00 00:00:00
4.P8d-8e 00:03:00 00:01:00
5.G6i-7h 00:03:00 00:01:00
6.G4a-3b 00:03:00 00:03:00
7.P2e-2d 00:05:00 00:03:00
8.P2cx2d 00:05:00 00:04:00
9.R2hx2d 00:05:00 00:04:00
10.P*2c 00:05:00 00:05:00
11.R2d-2h 00:05:00 00:05:00
Pulling the rook back all the way to 2h is the modern way of playing the Aigakari
opening. There is still a lot unknown about this opening, so it is easy to get away
from the known opening variations and avoid the preparation by the opponent.
12.P3c-3d 00:05:00 00:13:00
13.S3i-3h 00:10:00 00:13:00
14.P8e-8f 00:10:00 00:18:00
15.P8gx8f 00:11:00 00:18:00
16.R8bx8f 00:11:00 00:18:00
17.P*8g 00:11:00 00:18:00
18.R8f-8d 00:11:00 00:18:00
19.S3h-2g 00:18:00 00:18:00
20.K5a-4a 00:18:00 00:52:00
21.P7g-7f 00:24:00 00:52:00
22.S7a-6b 00:24:00 01:04:00
23.P1g-1f 00:33:00 01:04:00
24.G6a-5b 00:33:00 01:11:00
25.P1f-1e 00:41:00 01:11:00
26.P9c-9d 00:41:00 01:25:00
27.P9g-9f 00:45:00 01:25:00
28.P7c-7d 00:45:00 01:37:00
29.S2g-3f 01:39:00 01:37:00
This is a normal attacking plan in this position, but Moriuchi has a different plan
in mind than using this silver for a direct attack on the head of the bishop.
30.N8a-7c 01:39:00 01:40:00
31.S3f-4e 03:09:00 01:40:00
32.P7d-7e 03:09:00 02:34:00
This is the natural defence against Sx3d next, but Moriuchi has found a clever way
to turn this into a liability.
33.P7fx7e 03:25:00 02:34:00
34.P3d-3e?! 03:25:00 03:05:00
Again a light way of playing this position, but suspect. If Habu would have seen what's
coming next, he probably would have played 34.P9e Px9e N6e to attack first. For example,
K6h then gives white the option of playing either P8f Px8f Rx8f P*8g R7f or P*7g and in
both cases it seems that the white attack continues. Habu said after the game that he
had looked at this attack, but wasn't confident that it would work. Still, it would have
been a lot better than what happens next.
35.S4e-5f! 04:09:00 03:05:00
This is Moriuchi's new idea. He is going to pull back the silver into his own position,
forcing the game into a slow pace. In such a strategic game, the pawn on 7e is very
important, because it ties the white rook to the square 7d. As a result, white is
unable to properly
develop his pieces.
36.P5c-5d 04:09:00 03:19:00
37.P6g-6f 04:21:00 03:19:00
38.S6b-5c 04:21:00 03:49:00
39.S5f-6g 04:36:00 03:49:00
40.B2b-5e 04:36:00 04:46:00
41.R2h-2f 04:48:00 04:46:00
42.S3a-4b 04:48:00 05:13:00
43.G4i-5h 05:16:00 05:13:00
44.K4a-3a 05:16:00 05:25:00
45.K5i-6h 05:33:00 05:25:00
46.B5e-4d 05:33:00 06:07:00
47.P8g-8f! 05:56:00 06:07:00
This is another point of Moriuchi's strategy. This pawn cannot be taken by the rook
because of P7d.
48.P5d-5e 05:56:00 06:16:00
White has no choice but to make an escape square for the rook on 5d, because black
was strongly threatening P8e.
49.P8f-8e 06:03:00 06:16:00
50.R8d-5d 06:03:00 06:17:00
51.S6g-7f 06:33:00 06:17:00
52.S4b-3c 06:33:00 06:21:00
53.G7h-6g 06:40:00 06:21:00
The black pieces just keep moving up the board, while the white pieces have to
stay back. The position is already very difficult for white and it slowly gets
worse.
54.S3c-3d 06:40:00 06:35:00
55.R2f-2h 06:52:00 06:35:00
56.B4d-3c 06:52:00 06:36:00
57.N8i-7g 07:00:00 06:36:00
58.S5c-4b 07:00:00 06:50:00
59.K6h-7h 07:22:00 06:50:00
60.R5d-4d 07:22:00 07:21:00
61.K7h-8g 07:34:00 07:21:00
62.S3d-4e 07:34:00 07:26:00
63.B8h-9g 07:49:00 07:26:00
64.P3e-3f 07:49:00 07:43:00
65.P3gx3f 07:59:00 07:43:00
66.P5e-5f 07:59:00 08:02:00
67.P5gx5f 08:06:00 08:02:00
68.S4ex3f 08:06:00 08:02:00
69.P7e-7d 08:07:00 08:02:00
70.R4dx7d 08:07:00 08:03:00
71.P*3g 08:13:00 08:03:00
72.S3f-4e 08:13:00 08:03:00
73.P4g-4f 08:17:00 08:03:00
74.S4ex4f 08:17:00 08:05:00
75.P*4g 08:17:00 08:05:00
76.S4f-3e 08:17:00 08:06:00
77.S7f-7e 08:17:00 08:06:00
78.R7d-3d 08:17:00 08:06:00
79.P*7d 08:17:00 08:06:00
80.P*7b 08:17:00 08:06:00
81.G5h-5g 08:23:00 08:06:00
Another strong move. This clears the way for the rook to switch to the 7th file.
Black can force a breakthrough with this rook, which is devastating. At this point
black is already certain of winning the knight on 7c. If this can be combined with
a rook promotion the game is over.
82.B3c-2d 08:23:00 08:17:00
83.P*2e 08:37:00 08:17:00
84.B2d-3c 08:37:00 08:18:00
85.R2h-7h 08:41:00 08:18:00
86.K3a-2b 08:41:00 08:26:00
87.P7dx7c+ 08:45:00 08:26:00
88.P7bx7c 08:45:00 08:26:00
89.N7g-6e 08:45:00 08:26:00
90.G5b-6b 08:45:00 08:27:00
91.S7e-8d 08:50:00 08:27:00
Now it is no longer possible to prevent the breakthrough on the 7th file. Some
professionals in the press room expected that Habu's resignation was imminent.
They should have known better...
92.P7c-7d 08:50:00 08:29:00
93.S8d-7c+? 08:50:00 08:29:00
Moriuchi, who has played a flawless game up until this point, makes his first mistake.
Black could have made it very easy with 93.N*4e here. This bishop can only go to 4d,
but then black can play Rx7d and the rook promotion is next.
94.P*8f 08:50:00 08:30:00
95.B9gx8f 08:50:00 08:30:00
96.G6bx7c 08:50:00 08:30:00
97.N6ex7c+ 08:50:00 08:30:00
98.P*8d 08:50:00 08:30:00
99.G*4e 08:51:00 08:30:00
100.P8dx8e 08:51:00 08:30:00
101.B8f-9g 08:51:00 08:30:00
White is still in serious trouble, but the pawn on 8e is big, putting pressure on the
black king. On the other hand, the white king is not so easy to attack. Black now
needs to be careful and aiming for an entering king is the best but slightly risky
way to win this game.
102.R3d-6d 08:51:00 08:31:00
103.+N7cx7d 08:53:00 08:31:00
104.S3e-4d 08:53:00 08:32:00
105.G4e-3d 08:56:00 08:32:00
106.P*7g! 08:56:00 08:36:00
Habu shows why he is the endgame magician. After the opening failure he has been with
his back against the wall for hours, but instead of succumbing under the black
pressure, he has played the best move every time, refusing to give Moriuchi an
easy victory. This is an important subtlety. If white plays 108.R5d immediately,
then 109.N*4f R5a P2d S4e Px2c+ Gx2c like in the game is much stronger for black
after Gx2c Kx2c P*2d Kx2d P*2e Kx2e R2h! and black wins. The point of 106.P*7g is
that after black takes this pawn with rook, this rook switch to the 2nd file is no
longer possible.
107.R7hx7g 08:56:00 08:36:00
108.R6d-5d 08:56:00 08:36:00
109.N*4f 08:56:00 08:36:00
110.R5d-5a 08:56:00 08:37:00
111.P2e-2d 08:56:00 08:37:00
112.S4d-4e 08:56:00 08:37:00
113.P2dx2c+ 08:57:00 08:37:00
114.G3bx2c 08:57:00 08:37:00
115.G3dx3c 08:57:00 08:37:00
116.S4bx3c 08:57:00 08:37:00
117.+N7d-8d 08:57:00 08:37:00
118.S*8f 08:57:00 08:39:00
119.B9gx8f 08:57:00 08:39:00
120.P8ex8f 08:57:00 08:39:00
121.K8gx8f 08:57:00 08:39:00
122.B*4b 08:57:00 08:39:00
123.P*7e 08:57:00 08:39:00
124.S4ex4f 08:57:00 08:39:00
125.G5gx4f 08:57:00 08:39:00
126.R5a-5d 08:57:00 08:40:00
127.B*6b 08:57:00 08:40:00
128.P*8c 08:57:00 08:41:00
129.+N8dx8c 08:58:00 08:41:00
130.N*7d 08:58:00 08:43:00
131.K8f-8e 08:58:00 08:43:00
132.P*8b 08:58:00 08:44:00
133.+N8cx8b 08:58:00 08:44:00
134.G*8f 08:58:00 08:44:00
135.K8e-8d 08:58:00 08:44:00
136.G8fx7g 08:58:00 08:44:00
137.G6gx7g 08:58:00 08:44:00
138.R*8i 08:58:00 08:44:00
139.S*8h 08:58:00 08:44:00
This puts the rook in a cage of black generals and the black king now seems to have
a safe route to the other side of the board.
140.P*7h! 08:58:00 08:44:00
This is a nasty pawn. Black can not take it because Nx6f is a check.
141.S*9h?? 08:58:00 08:44:00
But this move has the same problem! Habu is rewarded for his almost inhuman patience
in this game by a terrible Moriuchi blunder. Black should have played 141.G*6i here
and after 142.R5b S7c+ it seems impossible to stop the king from entering. However,
with a number of pieces hanging and the king on the rank of the rook, it is not so
easy to find this gold drop and Moriuchi was running out of time here (only two
minutes left on the clock).
142.N7d-8f 08:58:00 08:44:00
According to the journalist who was assisting the game record keeper at the end of
the game, Moriuchi uttered a clear "Ah..." after Habu played this move, realizing
that he had just made a grave mistake. White is now picking up the generals that
were supposed to take the white rook and these troops are just what white needs
to stop the black king from entering.
143.K8d-8c 08:58:00 08:44:00
144.N8fx9h+ 08:58:00 08:44:00
145.G7gx7h 08:59:00 08:44:00
146.S*6i 08:59:00 08:55:00
147.G7h-8g 08:59:00 08:55:00
148.+N9hx8h 08:59:00 08:55:00
149.S7ix8h 08:59:00 08:55:00
150.S6i-7h= 08:59:00 08:55:00
151.G8g-7f 08:59:00 08:55:00
152.R8ix8h+ 08:59:00 08:55:00
153.P*8f 08:59:00 08:55:00
154.S7h-6g= 08:59:00 08:55:00
155.G7f-8e 08:59:00 08:55:00
156.S6g-7f= 08:59:00 08:55:00
157.G8e-7d 08:59:00 08:55:00
158.+R8hx8f 08:59:00 08:55:00
159.P*8d 08:59:00 08:55:00
160.S*6a 08:59:00 08:55:00
161.B6b-7a+ 08:59:00 08:55:00
162.R5dx7d 08:59:00 08:55:00
163.P7ex7d 08:59:00 08:55:00
164.G*9c 08:59:00 08:55:00
Resigns 08:59:00 08:55:00
And simple mate after 165.K7c +Rx8d K6c S*5b K5d +Rx7d etc., so Moriuchi resigned
here. A huge win for Habu, because winning a game he seemed to have no chance of
winning should be a big psychological blow for Moriuchi. Not only that, Habu got
the win with the white pieces and in the last ten games between these two players
black had won every time. Getting this break and playing with the black pieces
next could give Habu the momentum he needs to take the Meijin title from Moriuchi.