83rd Kisei Match Game 3
[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Kisei"]
[White "Nakamura Taichi, Challenger"]
[Event "83rd Kisei-sen, Game 3"]
[Date "July 5th 2012"]
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:00:00
3.P2g-2f 00:04:00 00:00:00
4.P8c-8d 00:04:00 00:00:00
5.P2f-2e 00:04:00 00:00:00
6.P8d-8e 00:04:00 00:00:00
7.G6i-7h 00:05:00 00:00:00
8.G4a-3b 00:05:00 00:00:00
9.P2e-2d 00:05:00 00:00:00
10.P2cx2d 00:05:00 00:00:00
11.R2hx2d 00:05:00 00:00:00
12.P8e-8f 00:05:00 00:00:00
13.P8gx8f 00:06:00 00:00:00
14.R8bx8f 00:06:00 00:00:00
15.R2dx3d 00:06:00 00:00:00
The second Yokofudori game in this match. Not surprising, as Nakamura had very
good chances to win the first game with this opening.
16.B2b-3c 00:06:00 00:00:00
17.R3d-3f 00:10:00 00:00:00
18.S3a-2b 00:10:00 00:00:00
19.K5i-5h 00:10:00 00:00:00
20.K5a-5b 00:10:00 00:01:00
21.P9g-9f 00:13:00 00:01:00
22.R8f-8d 00:13:00 00:17:00
23.G4i-3h 00:24:00 00:17:00
24.P9c-9d 00:24:00 00:19:00
25.P7f-7e 00:34:00 00:19:00
26.G6a-7b 00:34:00 00:50:00
27.N8i-7g 00:43:00 00:50:00
28.P*8g 00:43:00 00:55:00
29.B8h-9g 00:51:00 00:55:00
30.P9d-9e 00:51:00 00:56:00
31.P9fx9e 00:52:00 00:56:00
32.N8a-9c 00:52:00 00:56:00
33.B9g-8f 01:45:00 00:56:00
Habu has kept the line to the bishop open, and Nakamura strongly attacks on
the 8th and 9th files. After the game Nakamura said that he had played this
attack before, although the position was slightly different. Habu took 53 minutes
for 33.B8f, admitting that it was kind of a do-or-die move. The move black wants
to play is 33.S6h, but this is answered by 34.P*3e R5f N8e Nx8e Bx9i+ P7d L*5d
and white has the better position.
34.N9c-8e 01:45:00 01:17:00
35.N7gx8e 01:46:00 01:17:00
36.R8dx8e 01:46:00 01:18:00
37.G7hx8g 01:49:00 01:18:00
Only 37 moves played and we are already in the endgame.
38.P*3e 01:49:00 02:07:00
White wants to play 38.Bx9i+ here, but at the moment this fails to Rx3b+. Top lady
professional Satomi, who was visiting this game that was played in her home
prefecture of Shimane, was analyzing the game in the press room and came up with
the brilliant 38.N*4f!, which was missed by all top professionals present. The
point is of course that 39.Rx4f makes Bx9i+ possible, but also after 39.Px4f
white can play Rx8f Gx8f B*1d an indirect fork on rook and king. When this
variation was shown to the players after game, both were very impressed with
Satomi's discovery. Still, 38.P*3e is not a bad move, although it leaves white
without pawns in hand.
39.R3fx3e 01:54:00 02:07:00
40.S2b-2c 01:54:00 02:08:00
41.P*8h 02:34:00 02:08:00
42.R8ex8f 02:34:00 02:40:00
43.G8gx8f 02:35:00 02:40:00
44.B3c-7g+ 02:35:00 02:40:00
45.N*2d 02:39:00 02:40:00
46.N*6f 02:39:00 03:37:00
An alternative was 46.N*4f (again!) Px4f B*1d N*3f Sx2d Rx3b+ Bx3b Nx2d B1d
P*2e R*5i K4g Rx7i+ R*3a P6d which is unclear. In the post-mortem analysis
Nakamura said he didn't like this variation, but that if the game variation
was not satisfactory he probably had to play it this way.
47.P6gx6f 02:39:00 03:37:00
48.B*6g 02:39:00 03:37:00
49.K5h-4h 02:39:00 03:37:00
50.+B7gx8f 02:39:00 03:37:00
51.G3h-2g 02:40:00 03:37:00
52.+B8f-7f? 02:40:00 03:40:00
The general opinion in the press room was that black had the better position,
but in reality the endgame is still very close. Nakamura could have made it
very interesting had he played 52.+B5i 53.K3h 54.G*3d here, because it is not
easy to find a good way to attack for black. For example, 55.Nx3b+ Sx3b R*2b
seems hard to defend against, but then +B4i K2h +Bx2g Kx2g G*3a and because
both of the black rooks are attacked it looks like black is in trouble.
53.K4h-3h 03:24:00 03:40:00
54.G3b-3c? 03:24:00 03:41:00
This mistake decides the game. Habu was worried about 54.G4b R3a+ G*4a +Rx2a
P4d +R2b +B3d and the white position is hard to break down, while giving white
a rook in hand is very dangerous because of R*6i.
55.R*2b 03:34:00 03:41:00
56.G*4b 03:34:00 03:41:00
57.N*4e 03:34:00 03:41:00
58.G3c-3d 03:34:00 03:43:00
59.R3e-3f! 03:35:00 03:43:00
A slow looking move in a razor sharp endgame, but the right answer. If black
rushes his attack with 59.Rx3d Sx3d N3b+ then white can play P6d and it is not
easy to keep the king from escaping up the board.
60.B6gx4e+ 03:35:00 03:54:00
61.R2bx2c+ 03:35:00 03:54:00
62.G3d-2e 03:35:00 03:54:00
63.+R2cx2a 03:39:00 03:54:00
64.N*1e 03:39:00 03:54:00
65.G2g-2f 03:44:00 03:54:00
66.G2ex2f 03:44:00 03:54:00
67.R3fx2f 03:44:00 03:54:00
68.G*2g 03:44:00 03:57:00
69.K3h-4h 03:44:00 03:57:00
70.P4c-4d 03:44:00 03:58:00
71.S*6e 03:45:00 03:58:00
72.+B7f-6g 03:45:00 03:59:00
73.N2d-3b+ 03:45:00 03:59:00
74.G2gx2f 03:45:00 03:59:00
75.+N3bx4b 03:45:00 03:59:00
76.K5bx4b 03:45:00 03:59:00
77.G*3b 03:45:00 03:59:00
Resigns 03:45:00 03:59:00
Simple mate after 78.K4c G*3c K5b G3b-4b K6b +R5a so white resigned here. Habu
wins the match and 23 years after taking his first title (the Ryu-O in 1989) he
wins his 81st title match, breaking Oyama's record. He is only 41 years old and
although his title pace has dropped a little in recent years, it seems that a
100 titles is not out of the question. For Nakamura it has been a disappointing
first title match appearance, but most players first lose to Habu before making
a successful attempt.