13th Ryu-O Match Game 1
Black: Fujii Takeshi, Ryu-O
White: Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger
13th Ryu-O sen, Game 1, October 19th and 20th 2000
1.P7g-7f 0/0 0/0
The first game of the Ryu-O used to be played outside Japan every year, but
last year this tradition seemed to have been abandoned as all games were
played in Japan. This year the Ryu-O again went abroad for the first game
as Shanghai was the background for the first game of the second consecutive
title match between Fujii and Habu. Psychologically, Habu seemed to have
the advantage going into the match, as he beat Fujii in the final two games
of the Oza match to defend his title. Furthermore, Fujii's form going into
this game was a little questionable, as he lost two consecutive games against
Tanigawa in the endgame lately.
2.P3c-3d 0/0 3/3
3.P6g-6f 1/1 0/3
4.P4c-4d 0/1 4/7
This move shows that Habu has found no definite answer to the Fujii system.
In the last two games of the Oza match he played a quick attack but even
though he won both games, Fujii had no problems after the opening. 4.P4d
seems to be an invitation to play Ai-furibisha (Double Ranging Rook). I don't
think I have ever seen a game where Habu played this strategy. On the other
hand, it seems that Fujii does not like Ai-furibisha very much. Against
other Furibisha specialists, he often plays Static Rook himself. In last
year's Ryu-O match against Suzuki, he avoided the Ai-furibisha in every
game and played Static Rook instead. Maybe Habu tries to trick him into
a Static Rook game.
5.S7i-7h 7/8 0/7
6.S3a-4b 0/8 5/12
7.S7h-6g 5/13 0/12
8.S4b-4c 0/13 3/15
9.P9g-9f 1/14 0/15
10.P4d-4e 0/14 17/32
11.R2h-7h 8/22 0/32
12.P3d-3e 0/22 19/51
13.B8h-9g 35/57 0/51
14.S7a-6b 0/57 20/71
15.P7f-7e 1/58 0/71
16.K5a-4b 0/58 4/75
17.K5i-4h 21/79 0/75
18.G6a-5b 0/79 12/87
19.P7e-7d 14/93 0/87
20.R8b-7b 0/93 20/107
21.P7dx7c+ 6/99 0/107
22.S6bx7c 0/99 1/108
23.G6i-5h 6/105 0/108
24.K4b-3b 0/105 30/138
25.P5g-5f 3/108 0/138
26.P8c-8d 0/108 53/191
27.K4h-3h 29/137 0/191
28.G4a-4b 0/137 5/196
29.K3h-2h 4/141 0/196
30.S7c-7d 0/141 12/208
31.P*7e 8/149 0/208
32.S7d-8e 0/149 4/212
Habu's strategy seems to have payed off. This climbing silver looks very
threatening. The general opinion here was that Habu was better, but it
seems that this might not have been the case...
33.B9g-7i! 100/249 0/212
The sealed move for which Fujii took 100 minutes. This time was well spent,
as Habu would have gotten the advantage after 33.B8h P*7d N7g S9d Px7d S8c
(the reason for playing 26.P8d) N6e Rx7d and it is hard for black to
exchange rooks because of the fork R*8i and the threat Sx6e.
34.P6c-6d 0/249 20/232
35.S3i-3h 5/254 0/232
36.P6d-6e 0/254 77/309
37.B7i-8h 2/256 0/309
38.P*7d 0/256 1/310
39.P6fx6e 48/304 0/310
40.B2bx8h+ 0/304 9/319
41.R7hx8h 0/304 0/319
42.P7dx7e? 0/304 0/319
Bad move that gives Fujii the advantage. Correct was 42.B*3c B*5e Bx5e Px5e
Px7e. This looks very similar to the game, but there is one move difference
which is very important.
43.R8h-6h! 5/309 0/319
The difference. Black now is given a chance to activate his rook.
44.B*3c 0/309 38/357
45.L9i-9g 41/350 0/357
46.P7e-7f? 0/350 15/372
The losing move. Habu did not like the empty promotion 46.B9i+, but that is
what he should have done anyway. After 47.B*6f +Bx8i Bx1a+ N3c P6d P*6b
it is not so easy for black to attack with only one lance in hand and white
having a good escape route for the king through 4a.
47.S6g-6f 1/351 0/372
48.S8e-7d 0/351 0/372
49.P6e-6d 13/364 0/372
50.P*6e 0/364 36/408
51.S6f-5e 18/382 0/408
52.P5c-5d 0/382 1/409
53.P*7e 0/382 0/409
54.S7d-8c 0/382 1/410
55.R6hx6e 7/389 0/410
56.G4b-5c 0/389 0/410
57.P6d-6c+ 7/396 0/410
58.G5bx6c 0/396 4/414
59.R6ex6c+ 1/397 0/414
60.G5cx6c 0/397 0/414
61.P*6d 0/397 0/414
62.G6c-6b? 0/397 17/431
It seems that Habu has already given up on this game. 62.G7c was better.
63.B*6e 3/400 0/431
64.R*6i 0/400 0/431
65.B6ex8c+ 7/407 0/431
66.P5dx5e 0/407 0/431
67.S*6c 2/409 0/431
68.P3e-3f 0/409 7/438
69.G*5i 4/413 0/438
70.R6ix8i+ 0/413 3/441
71.S6cx7b+ 0/413 0/441
72.P3fx3g+ 0/413 0/441
73.S3hx3g 0/413 0/441
74.P*3f 0/413 0/441
75.S3gx3f 1/414 0/441
76.P*3e 0/414 0/441
77.+S7bx6b 1/415 0/441
78.P3ex3f 0/415 0/441
79.P*3h 0/415 0/441
Resigns 0/415 3/444
Time: 06:55:00 07:24:00
Habu takes three minutes to decide that there is nothing left to play for.
White's only reasonable moves seems to be 80.Px5f followed by B5e, but black
can simply play +Bx5f, defending against B5e and attacking the white rook.
A bad start for Habu in his quest for his sixth major title. Worse than
losing seems to be the lack of fighting spirit that Habu displayed in this
game. For Fujii this win must be very important. He stopped the rot with
a convincing start in this match. Also, Habu again has to rethink
his opening strategy as he lost the opening in every game he played against
Fujii so far.