75th Kisei Match Game 3
[Black "Sato Yasumitsu, Kisei"]
[White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger"]
[Event "75th Kisei-sen, Game 3"]
[Date "July 7th 2004"]
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:01:00
3.P2g-2f 00:01:00 00:01:00
4.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:01:00
5.P2f-2e 00:03:00 00:01:00
6.P8d-8e 00:03:00 00:01:00
7.G6i-7h 00:03:00 00:01:00
8.G4a-3b 00:03:00 00:01:00
9.P2e-2d 00:03:00 00:01:00
10.P2cx2d 00:03:00 00:01:00
11.R2hx2d 00:03:00 00:01:00
12.P8e-8f 00:03:00 00:01:00
13.P8gx8f 00:03:00 00:01:00
14.R8bx8f 00:03:00 00:01:00
15.R2dx3d 00:03:00 00:01:00
16.B2b-3c 00:03:00 00:01:00
17.R3d-3f 00:05:00 00:01:00
18.S3a-2b 00:05:00 00:01:00
19.K5i-5h 00:08:00 00:01:00
20.K5a-4a 00:08:00 00:04:00
21.P*8g 00:09:00 00:04:00
22.R8f-8e 00:09:00 00:04:00
23.B8hx3c+ 00:17:00 00:04:00
24.N2ax3c 00:17:00 00:04:00
25.N8i-7g 00:17:00 00:04:00
26.R8e-2e 00:17:00 00:04:00
27.P*2f 00:17:00 00:04:00
28.R2e-2d 00:17:00 00:04:00
29.R3f-5f 00:18:00 00:04:00
One of the latest strategies against the R8e Yokofudori opening. It was
first played by Nakahara in March 2003, but it became very well-known
after the 2nd game of the Oza match in September 2003, when Watanabe used
it to beat Habu in only 69 moves. Since then it has been played in 12
games with black and white each winning half. The point of this strategy
is that black is a pawn up for which white seeks compensation in having
more freedom to move the rook. Nakahara is still the main proponent of
this strategy, playing it four times (winning three). Watanabe, who is
known for studying the R8e Yokofudori very deeply, has also played white
against 29.R5f twice, winning one and losing one.
30.G6a-6b 00:18:00 00:12:00
31.G4i-3h 00:18:00 00:12:00
32.R2d-5d 00:18:00 00:12:00
33.R5f-6f 00:19:00 00:12:00
34.K4a-5b 00:19:00 00:15:00
35.S7i-6h 00:25:00 00:15:00
36.G6b-7b 00:25:00 00:29:00
37.S3i-2h 01:12:00 00:29:00
38.S7a-6b 01:12:00 00:36:00
39.P3g-3f 01:16:00 00:36:00
40.B*4d 01:16:00 00:58:00
41.R6f-5f 01:44:00 00:58:00
42.P7c-7d 01:44:00 01:52:00
In the press room, 42.P8f was analyzed, which seemed to give white the
upper hand. Moriuchi did not play it because he did not like 43.Px8f
Rx5f Px5f R*8i B*8h P*8g Gx8g Rx2i+ G3i. Sato planned to answer 42.P8f
with 43.B*9h!. Both players looked at different things, but both had
looked deeper than the professionals on the sidelines.
43.B*4f 03:03:00 01:52:00
44.P6c-6d 03:03:00 02:05:00
45.R5fx5d 03:04:00 02:05:00
46.P5cx5d 03:04:00 02:05:00
47.P3f-3e 03:05:00 02:05:00
48.B4d-5e?! 03:05:00 02:36:00
This is turning into a very close game where it is hard to find any
mistakes. If there is a dubious move, this is the one. 48.P5e, locking
out the black bishop seems to be good for white because black has no
good squares to drop the rook. After the game, Moriuchi admitted that
P5e was the most natural move and that B5e was an overplay.
49.B4fx5e 03:18:00 02:36:00
50.P5dx5e 03:18:00 02:36:00
51.B*2g 03:20:00 02:36:00
52.B*6c 03:20:00 02:47:00
53.B2gx6c+ 03:23:00 02:47:00
54.S6bx6c 03:23:00 02:47:00
55.B*2g 03:23:00 02:47:00
56.B*5d 03:23:00 02:56:00
57.B2gx5d 03:24:00 02:56:00
58.S6cx5d 03:24:00 02:56:00
59.B*2g 03:25:00 02:56:00
60.B*6c 03:25:00 03:00:00
By dropping the bishop on 2g multiple times, Sato has managed to draw
out the defending silver on 6b to 5d. This seems good for black, but
Sato was a bit disappointed with the result. The game is still very
close.
61.N2i-3g 03:27:00 03:00:00
62.P*8f 03:27:00 03:10:00
63.P8gx8f 03:30:00 03:10:00
64.R*8i 03:30:00 03:11:00
65.G7h-7i 03:33:00 03:11:00
66.R8ix9i+ 03:33:00 03:11:00
67.P3e-3d 03:36:00 03:11:00
68.N3c-4e 03:36:00 03:13:00
69.N7g-6e 03:39:00 03:13:00
70.N4ex3g+ 03:39:00 03:27:00
71.S2hx3g 03:39:00 03:27:00
72.N*4e 03:39:00 03:27:00
73.S3g-4f 03:47:00 03:27:00
74.S5dx6e 03:47:00 03:35:00
75.N*8d 03:48:00 03:35:00
76.G7b-7a 03:48:00 03:39:00
77.B2gx4e 03:49:00 03:39:00
Looks good for black, but white has a nice counterpunch...
78.N*5d! 03:49:00 03:39:00
Which is in turn nicely countered...
79.K5h-4h! 03:54:00 03:39:00
A well-timed early escape. This is one of those games where the
player who just moved seems to have the upper hand after each move.
80.N5dx4f 03:54:00 03:50:00
81.B4ex6c+ 03:54:00 03:50:00
82.K5bx6c 03:54:00 03:50:00
83.P4gx4f 03:54:00 03:50:00
84.B*1d 03:54:00 03:50:00
85.R*5a 03:54:00 03:50:00
86.S*6b 03:54:00 03:51:00
87.B*4e 03:56:00 03:51:00
88.L*5d 03:56:00 03:55:00
89.R5a-4a+ 03:56:00 03:55:00
90.G3b-3c 03:56:00 03:55:00
With both rooks promoted, it seems that the game is drawing to an
end. However, after this move, everyone in the press room started
to hold their breath. 91.+R4b G3b +R4a G3c would be another
sennichite!
91.+R4a-4b 03:56:00 03:55:00
92.G3c-4d 03:56:00 03:55:00
Moriuchi wants nothing of it. Actually, Sato also did not want the
sennichite. If play continued 92.G3b +R4a G3c, he had planned to
take his chances with Px3c+ Bx4a +Px4c K7c +P4d which is too close
to call.
93.B4e-2g 03:56:00 03:55:00
94.P5e-5f 03:56:00 03:55:00
95.P5gx5f 03:56:00 03:55:00
96.K6c-7c 03:56:00 03:55:00
97.+R4bx2b 03:57:00 03:55:00
98.S6ex5f 03:57:00 03:55:00
99.N*2e 03:57:00 03:55:00
100.S5f-5g= 03:57:00 03:55:00
101.S6hx5g 03:57:00 03:55:00
102.+R9ix7i 03:57:00 03:57:00
103.P*5f 03:58:00 03:57:00
104.P*3g 03:58:00 03:57:00
105.K4hx3g 03:58:00 03:57:00
106.+R7ix1i 03:58:00 03:57:00
107.N*3f 03:58:00 03:57:00
108.L*3e 03:58:00 03:57:00
109.S*7b 03:59:00 03:57:00
110.L3ex3f 03:59:00 03:58:00
111.B2gx3f 03:59:00 03:58:00
112.P*3e 03:59:00 03:58:00
113.S7bx7a= 03:59:00 03:58:00
114.P3ex3f 03:59:00 03:58:00
115.K3g-2g 03:59:00 03:58:00
116.S6bx7a? 03:59:00 03:59:00
It took more than one and a half hour to reach the conclusion that
116.P3g+ first would have been better. The reason for this is that
a silver on 6b might play a role in stopping black from entering!
It is a bit harsh on Moriuchi to blame him for overlooking (in
byoyomi) the brilliant move Sato has.
117.S*8b 03:59:00 03:59:00
118.K7c-6c 03:59:00 03:59:00
119.S8bx7a= 03:59:00 03:59:00
120.P3f-3g+ 03:59:00 03:59:00
121.K2g-1f! 03:59:00 03:59:00
This looks extremely dangerous. 121.K1f, which was at first thought to
be a blunder by Sato, actually wins the game. "Even in my wildest dreams
I could not foresee the king escaping" (Moriuchi). The bishop on 1d, which
seems to work fine in attack, suddenly becomes a piece that blocks all of the white
attacking options.
122.S*1e 03:59:00 03:59:00
123.K1fx1e 03:59:00 03:59:00
124.N*2c 03:59:00 03:59:00
125.+R2bx2c 03:59:00 03:59:00
126.+R1ix1g 03:59:00 03:59:00
127.P*1f 03:59:00 03:59:00
128.B1dx2c 03:59:00 03:59:00
129.S*7b 03:59:00 03:59:00
130.K6c-5b 03:59:00 03:59:00
131.S7a-6b+ 03:59:00 03:59:00
132.K5bx6b 03:59:00 03:59:00
133.S*6c 03:59:00 03:59:00
Resigns 03:59:00 03:59:00
Moriuchi plays on until even a beginner can find the mate, probably
to compose himself after suffering a shocking 3-0 defeat. The first
two games were all Sato, but this third game was more decided by luck
than by anything else. Moriuchi was the favorite going into this match,
taking the Ryu-O, Osho and Meijin titles from Habu, but in Sato he met
a determined opponent. Sato's third consecutive Kisei title is a great
wedding present for his fiancee.