70th Meijin Match Game 1

[Black "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Meijin"]
[White "Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger"]
[Event "70th Meijin-sen, Game 1"]
[Date "April 10th and 11th 2012"]
1.P7g-7f     00:00:00  00:00:00

Childhood rivals Moriuchi and Habu meet at the biggest stage again, just like last 
year. This time the roles are reversed with Moriuch being the Meijin and Habu being 
the challenger. This is their seventh Meijin match with each winning three of the 
previous six. The furigoma resulted in three pawns, giving Moriuchi the black pieces.

2.P8c-8d     00:00:00  00:00:00
3.S7i-6h     00:01:00  00:00:00
4.P3c-3d     00:01:00  00:07:00
5.P6g-6f     00:01:00  00:07:00
6.S7a-6b     00:01:00  00:08:00
7.P5g-5f     00:05:00  00:08:00
8.P5c-5d     00:05:00  00:09:00
9.S3i-4h     00:06:00  00:09:00
10.S3a-4b    00:06:00  00:14:00
11.G4i-5h    00:12:00  00:14:00
12.G4a-3b    00:12:00  00:22:00
13.G6i-7h    00:20:00  00:22:00
14.K5a-4a    00:20:00  00:29:00
15.K5i-6i    00:20:00  00:29:00

The Yagura opening is not a surprise, but it is a surprise how long this game stays 
in known territory.

16.P7c-7d    00:20:00  00:30:00
17.G5h-6g    00:23:00  00:30:00
18.G6a-5b    00:23:00  00:41:00
19.S6h-7g    00:24:00  00:41:00
20.S4b-3c    00:24:00  00:41:00
21.B8h-7i    00:24:00  00:41:00
22.B2b-3a    00:24:00  00:41:00
23.P3g-3f    00:24:00  00:41:00
24.P4c-4d    00:24:00  00:41:00
25.S4h-3g    00:27:00  00:41:00
26.B3a-6d    00:27:00  00:47:00
27.B7i-6h    00:27:00  00:47:00
28.G5b-4c    00:27:00  00:48:00
29.K6i-7i    00:28:00  00:48:00
30.K4a-3a    00:28:00  00:48:00
31.K7i-8h    00:28:00  00:48:00
32.K3a-2b    00:28:00  00:48:00
33.S3g-4f    00:30:00  00:48:00
34.S6b-5c    00:30:00  00:48:00
35.N2i-3g    00:30:00  00:48:00
36.B6d-7c    00:30:00  00:57:00
37.P1g-1f    00:37:00  00:57:00
38.P1c-1d    00:37:00  00:57:00
39.P2g-2f    00:37:00  00:57:00
40.S3c-2d    00:37:00  00:57:00
41.R2h-3h    01:03:00  00:57:00
42.P9c-9d    01:03:00  01:03:00
43.L1i-1h    01:03:00  01:03:00
44.P8d-8e    01:03:00  01:05:00
45.L9i-9h    01:06:00  01:05:00
46.S5c-4b    01:06:00  01:06:00
47.K8h-9i    01:23:00  01:06:00
48.B7c-6d    01:23:00  01:10:00
49.P6f-6e    01:32:00  01:10:00
50.B6d-7c    01:32:00  01:14:00
51.N3g-2e    01:32:00  01:14:00
52.N2a-3c    01:32:00  01:42:00
53.P1f-1e    01:46:00  01:42:00
54.P1dx1e    01:46:00  01:44:00
55.P3f-3e    01:47:00  01:44:00
56.P3dx3e    01:47:00  01:45:00
57.P5f-5e    01:52:00  01:45:00
58.P5dx5e    01:52:00  01:49:00
59.S4fx3e    02:15:00  01:49:00
60.S2dx3e    02:15:00  01:54:00
61.B6hx3e    02:17:00  01:54:00
62.P*3d      02:17:00  01:56:00
63.B3e-7i    02:19:00  01:56:00
64.N3cx2e    02:19:00  02:56:00
65.P2fx2e    02:20:00  02:56:00
66.N*3e      02:20:00  02:56:00
67.P*1d      03:28:00  02:56:00
68.N3ex4g+   03:28:00  03:23:00
69.R3h-3f    03:48:00  03:23:00
70.S*3e      03:48:00  03:25:00
71.R3f-6f    03:49:00  03:25:00
72.B7c-8d    03:49:00  03:26:00
73.P7f-7e    03:58:00  03:26:00
74.B8dx7e    03:58:00  03:28:00
75.R6f-7f    03:59:00  03:28:00
76.B7e-4h+   03:59:00  03:47:00

The sealed move. The game is still following the fourth game of last year's Meijin 
match, with colors reversed (Habu won with the black pieces last year).

77.R7fx7d    04:00:00  03:47:00
78.P*7c      04:00:00  04:00:00
79.R7d-7f    04:01:00  04:00:00
80.S4b-5c    04:01:00  04:01:00
81.N*2g      04:32:00  04:01:00

Diagram 1

82.S3e-4f    04:32:00  04:48:00

Finally, Habu decides to change the moves. After the game, Habu said that he believed 
that this position had something for white, because of the strength of the promoted 
bishop and the promoted knight. However, it still seems hard to stop the black attack. 
Last year, Moriuchi played 82.S2f here and after 83.Nx1e P*1g S*1c K3a Nx2c+ Gx2c S2d+ 
the black attack continues. In the post-mortem analysis of this game, after 82.S2f Nx1e 
the move P3e was suggested. This opens an escape route for the white king, but black 
also has a number of ways to play this position like for example P*7d, so the position 
is not clear. After the game, Habu said that he didn't like 82.S2f much and wanted to 
see what happened if he moved the silver closer to the black king instead.

83.N2gx1e    05:34:00  04:48:00
84.P4d-4e?!  05:34:00  05:00:00

This defends the silver on 4f, so the promoted knight can move freely now, but it 
also opens up the square 4d. Correct was 84.Lx1d here and the position seems unclear.

85.P*4d      05:44:00  05:00:00

Diagram 2

86.S5cx4d    05:44:00  05:30:00

The alternative is 86.Gx4d, but after 87.P*7d Px7d Rx7d P*7c black sacrifices the 
rook with Rx4d and after Sx4d G*5d white is in trouble. For example, after K3c next, 
black sacrifices another major pieces with Bx4f and +Nx4f S*4a is very hard to 
defend for white because he holds only major pieces (also, G4b is answered by Nx2c+ 
followed by S*2d. The point of this position is that the black king is safely tucked 
away at 9i, so black can attack without having to worry about a counter.

87.P6e-6d!   05:45:00  05:30:00

Strong move. After 88.Px6d P*7d the black rook will promote.

88.L1ax1d    05:45:00  05:36:00
89.P6dx6c+   06:39:00  05:36:00
90.L1dx1e    06:39:00  05:36:00
91.P*4i!     06:39:00  05:36:00

Another good move to chase the promoted bishop away from its optimal square.

92.+B4h-5i   06:39:00  05:45:00

This keeps black from playing Lx1e, but gives up control of the 7th file.

93.+P6cx7c   06:40:00  05:45:00

Because the bishop has moved, this can no longer be answered with P*7e.

94.R8b-4b    06:40:00  05:48:00
95.P*1f      07:08:00  05:48:00

Diagram 3

This was a surprise, because the natural 95.+P6c looks better. However, it can also 
be said that 95.P*1f is a sign that Moriuchi is rounding himself into shape after 
having problems with his form recently. To drop a pawn on 1f needs courage, because 
it is far from clear that this attack will be in time. That Moriuchi plays this at 
such an important moment shows his confidence as a Meijin.

96.P5e-5f    07:08:00  06:41:00

Here 96.P*7e R6f P*6e Rx6e P5f may have been better.

97.R7fx5f    07:15:00  06:41:00
98.+B5i-6i   07:15:00  06:41:00
99.G6g-6h    07:23:00  06:41:00
100.+B6ix7i  07:23:00  06:41:00
101.G7hx7i   07:25:00  06:41:00
102.S4d-5e   07:25:00  06:58:00
103.R5f-7f   07:33:00  06:58:00
104.P*7e     07:33:00  07:01:00
105.R7fx7e   07:33:00  07:01:00
106.P8e-8f   07:33:00  07:02:00
107.R7e-8e   07:41:00  07:02:00
108.B*5d     07:41:00  07:04:00
109.R8ex8f   07:43:00  07:04:00
110.N8ax7c   07:43:00  07:13:00
111.R8f-8c+  07:56:00  07:13:00
112.P*8f     07:56:00  07:49:00

Diagram 4

113.S7gx8f!  08:02:00  07:49:00

Again, the natural move here seems to be 113.+Rx8f and it seems that black has a 
slight advantage after 114.P*7f S8h S6f P*6e P*6g G6h-7h S5g= P*5e P6h+ G7h-6h 
Sx6h+ Gx6h G*8e. However, Moriuchi has an ingenious plan to have the promoted 
rook work both in attack and defense.

114.P*8h     08:02:00  08:36:00
115.G7ix8h   08:03:00  08:36:00
116.N*7f     08:03:00  08:36:00
117.+R8cx7c  08:13:00  08:36:00

The point of Moriuchi's plan. This promoted work works so well in defense that 
white is stuck for moves.

118.N7fx8h+  08:13:00  08:40:00
119.K9ix8h   08:13:00  08:40:00
120.+N4g-5g  08:13:00  08:40:00
121.G6h-7h   08:15:00  08:40:00
122.G*6g     08:15:00  08:41:00
123.N*1d     08:46:00  08:41:00
124.K2b-1c   08:46:00  08:44:00

Diagram 5

125.P1fx1e   08:50:00  08:44:00

Finally, the pawn dropped on 1f at move 95 comes into play. The white king now 
has no escape route left.

126.P*7g     08:50:00  08:53:00
127.G7hx7g   08:50:00  08:53:00
128.P*7f     08:50:00  08:53:00
129.G7gx6g   08:50:00  08:53:00
130.+N5gx6g  08:50:00  08:53:00
131.L*7i     08:55:00  08:53:00
132.P7f-7g+  08:55:00  08:56:00
133.N8ix7g   08:55:00  08:56:00
134.P*7h     08:55:00  08:58:00
135.L7ix7h   08:56:00  08:58:00
136.S4f-5g+  08:56:00  08:58:00
137.+R7c-7a  08:57:00  08:58:00

This rook has played an important role in this game and is now used to place the 
final blow. It is only here that Moriuchi felt confident that he would win this 
game.

138.+S5g-6h  08:57:00  08:58:00
139.+R7a-1a  08:57:00  08:58:00
Resigns      08:57:00  08:59:00

Final Diagram

The only way to avoid mate is 140.G*1b, but this removes the white mating threat 
so that black can play 141.+R2a which threatens mate after G*2d. Again, white can 
defend against this with G4c-3c, but this is answered with N2b+ and hisshi. A great 
start for Moriuchi at a time where it seemed that Habu was in great form and Moriuchi 
had been struggling a little. This win shows that Moriuchi seems to find a little 
extra inspiration in the Meijin tournament.