16th Ryu-O Match Game 1
(Comments translated from Shukan Shogi by Richard Sams)
[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Ryu-O"]
[White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger"]
[Event "16th Ryu-O sen, Game 1"]
[Date "October 21st and 22nd 2003"]
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.P4c-4d 00:01:00 00:01:00
5.P2f-2e 00:04:00 00:01:00
6.B2b-3c 00:04:00 00:01:00
7.S3i-4h 00:05:00 00:01:00
8.P9c-9d 00:05:00 00:01:00
9.K5i-6h 00:07:00 00:01:00
10.R8b-4b 00:07:00 00:01:00
11.K6h-7h 00:10:00 00:01:00
12.S7a-7b 00:10:00 00:04:00
13.P5g-5f 00:24:00 00:04:00
14.G4a-5b 00:24:00 00:04:00
15.P9g-9f 00:40:00 00:04:00
16.S3a-3b 00:40:00 00:06:00
17.G4i-5h 00:41:00 00:06:00
18.K5a-6b 00:41:00 00:06:00
19.P3g-3f 01:05:00 00:06:00
20.K6b-7a 01:05:00 00:08:00
21.S7i-6h 01:05:00 00:08:00
22.K7a-8b 01:05:00 00:10:00
23.S6h-5g 01:05:00 00:10:00
24.S3b-4c 01:05:00 00:11:00
25.G6i-6h 01:41:00 00:11:00
26.P5c-5d 01:41:00 00:26:00
27.P4g-4f 02:06:00 00:26:00
28.P6c-6d 02:06:00 00:33:00
29.P4f-4e 02:07:00 00:33:00
30.G5b-6c 02:07:00 01:09:00
31.N2i-3g 02:15:00 01:09:00
32.P7c-7d 02:15:00 01:09:00
33.P2e-2d 02:30:00 01:09:00
34.P2cx2d 02:30:00 01:11:00
35.P4ex4d 02:32:00 01:11:00
36.S4cx4d 02:32:00 01:11:00
37.P*4e 02:32:00 01:11:00
38.S4dx4e 02:32:00 01:11:00
39.B8hx3c+ 02:33:00 01:11:00
40.N2ax3c 02:33:00 01:11:00
41.B*8h 02:33:00 01:11:00
42.R4b-4c 02:33:00 01:23:00
43.R2hx2d 02:34:00 01:23:00
44.P*4g 02:34:00 01:25:00
A useful move. If 45. Sx4g P*4f. After S-5i, Black can no longer answer
P-3e by S-4g and is also denied the possibility of bringing this silver
to 5f in lines where the pawn moves to 5e. Ranging rook specialist Fujii
9-dan pointed out that this idea of interpolating the moves P*4g S-5i
before a bishop-silver exchange on 5e was not new, but he was not aware
of any recent examples of it in practical play.
45.S4h-5i 02:38:00 01:25:00
46.P5d-5e 02:38:00 02:12:00
47.B8hx5e 02:53:00 02:12:00
48.S4e-5d 02:53:00 02:18:00
49.P*4d 02:54:00 02:18:00
50.R4c-5c 02:54:00 02:24:00
51.R2d-2b+ 02:57:00 02:24:00
52.S5dx5e 02:57:00 03:04:00
53.P5fx5e 02:59:00 03:04:00
54.P3d-3e 02:59:00 03:05:00
55.+R2bx1a 03:07:00 03:05:00
Here the game was adjourned.
56.P*5f!? 03:07:00 04:27:00
Moriuchi's sealed move, not anticipated by Habu or by any of the
professionals watching the game. Most had expected Moriuchi to seal
either 56. Px3f or 56. R-5a. Moriuchi himself was mainly looking at
56. G6c-6b. He analyzed the following line: L*5f R-5a; +Rx5a Gx5a;
P-5d Px4h+; S5ix4h Px3f; P-5c+ Px3g+; +Px6b Gx6b; Sx3g N-4e when he
thought the position was difficult but playable. But while he was
considering this line, he noticed the idea of P*5f. It's the kind
of light, counterattacking pawn drop that ranging rook players like,
but after the game Moriuchi said it was an "over-refinement." If Black
had replied with 57. Sx5f, he felt he would have stood worse. Fujii
9-dan, on the other hand, was very impressed by P*5f, pointing out
that it was a difficult move to see because it took away from White
the possibility of Rx5e. From Black's point of view, he thought it
was the most unpleasant move to face.
57.S5g-6f? 03:59:00 04:27:00
Habu must have been surprised too, since he took 52 minutes over a
reply he later regretted. After the game he said that S-6f had been
a crucial mistake.
58.P6d-6e 03:59:00 04:39:00
59.S6fx6e? 04:36:00 04:39:00
This capture looks natural, but Habu later regretted it, pointing out
that 59. L*5d would have been better. This lance drop seems dubious
with the silver en prise, but it is surprisingly strong: L*5d Rx5d;
Px5d Px6f; R*3b L*6b; P-5c+ Gx5c; Rx6b+ Gx6b; S*7a K-7c; Sx6b= Kx6b;
L*6e. Black's attack looks very dangerous, though of course White has
the possibility of playing Px6g+ at any point in the above line, so
it's actually quite difficult. Even so, it certainly gives Black
better prospects than the game continuation.
60.R5cx5e 04:36:00 04:43:00
61.L*6f 05:13:00 04:43:00
62.B*4f 05:13:00 05:40:00
Habu said that he didn't like his position after this bishop drop.
63.S6ex5f 05:33:00 05:40:00
64.R5ex5f 05:33:00 05:41:00
65.L6fx6c+ 05:34:00 05:41:00
66.P4g-4h+ 05:34:00 06:01:00
67.P*5g 05:47:00 06:01:00
Black has no choice but to drop this pawn to block out White's rook
and bishop. If Sx4h Rx5h; Gx5h G*7i; K-8h B*7h is good for White.
Although Black”Ēs attack looks strong, he has no way of finishing
White off after +Lx7b Gx7b.
68.+P4hx5h 05:47:00 06:29:00
69.S5ix5h 05:54:00 06:29:00
70.S*5i 05:54:00 06:29:00
71.G*6i 05:59:00 06:29:00
72.S5ix6h+ 05:59:00 06:37:00
73.G6ix6h 05:59:00 06:37:00
74.B*5i 05:59:00 06:37:00
75.S*7i 06:24:00 06:37:00
76.R5f-5d 06:24:00 06:44:00
77.P4d-4c+ 07:06:00 06:44:00
78.P*5f 07:06:00 06:45:00
79.P5gx5f 07:06:00 06:45:00
80.B4fx3g+ 07:06:00 06:51:00
81.+P4c-5b 07:14:00 06:51:00
82.R5dx5b 07:14:00 07:14:00
Kisei titleholder Sato thought that 82. Rx5f was strong here, when
after +Px6a Bx6h+; Sx6h Rx5h+; B*7a K-9b White's horse on 3g defends
against mate on 8b. According to Shima 8-dan, "This decision to give
up his rook to eliminate the tokin was very much in Moriuchi's recent
style, placing emphasis on accurate defense. While Rx5f may lead to a
quicker win, both moves are good. Ranging rook players usually hate
being put in check by a silver on 7a (or 7i). The fact that Moriuchi
chose this line shows how confident he is in his defensive ability."
83.+L6cx5b 07:14:00 07:14:00
84.G6ax5b 07:14:00 07:14:00
85.S*7a 07:22:00 07:14:00
86.K8b-9c 07:22:00 07:15:00
87.P9f-9e 07:25:00 07:15:00
88.P9dx9e! 07:25:00 07:27:00
Moriuchi had originally intended to play 88. G*8e here, with the idea
of getting to Black”Ēs king first with Gx7f. But after +R-4a Gx7f; P*7g
N*8f; Px8f G*8g; K-6i Bx6h+: Kx6h White has no effective way of
continuing the attack. After 12 minutes' thought, Moriuchi abandoned
G*8e and took the pawn on 9e. Having been forced to make this
concession, he later said he had no confidence in his position at
this point, but as it turned out Black had no clear way of forcing
home the attack. This change of course by Moriuchi was cool-headed
and, as it turned out, the correct decision.
89.+R1a-4a 07:37:00 07:27:00
90.G*4b 07:37:00 07:31:00
91.P*9d 07:40:00 07:31:00
92.K9cx9d 07:40:00 07:52:00
93.+R4ax4b 07:48:00 07:52:00
94.G5bx4b 07:48:00 07:52:00
95.G*8f 07:49:00 07:52:00
96.K9d-8d 07:49:00 07:56:00
97.R*6b 07:51:00 07:56:00
97. R*4d looks strong here, but after G*6a; Rx4b+ Gx7a White's king
is safe.
98.R*5b 07:51:00 07:56:00
99.P*9b 07:53:00 07:56:00
Habu said after the game that this "threw it away" and that 99. N-7g
was correct, but the post-mortem analysis suggested that even here
Black does not quite have enough: N-7g Rx6b; Sx6b= K-9c; R*4i G-5b;
Rx5i+ P-8d; R-3i +B-2h; R-4i P*4g; S-5c+ Gx5c; B*7a K-8c: Bx5c+ when
Habu had no confidence in Black”Ēs position.
100.K8d-7c 07:53:00 07:57:00
This took Habu by surprise. Now the White king's escape cannot be
prevented. Black does not have enough pieces in hand to press home
his attack.
101.R6bx5b+ 07:53:00 07:57:00
102.G4bx5b 07:53:00 07:57:00
103.P9bx9a+ 07:53:00 07:57:00
104.P*5g 07:53:00 07:57:00
105.S5hx5g 07:57:00 07:57:00
106.N3c-4e 07:57:00 07:57:00
107.S5g-6f 07:57:00 07:57:00
108.R*3h 07:57:00 07:57:00
109.R*5h 07:57:00 07:57:00
110.B5ix6h+ 07:57:00 07:58:00
111.R5hx6h 07:57:00 07:58:00
112.G*5h 07:57:00 07:58:00
113.R6hx5h 07:57:00 07:58:00
114.R3hx5h+ 07:57:00 07:58:00
115.G*6h 07:57:00 07:58:00
116.+R5h-5i 07:57:00 07:58:00
117.L*6e 07:57:00 07:58:00
118.P*6d 07:57:00 07:58:00
119.S6f-5e 07:57:00 07:58:00
120.K7c-6c 07:57:00 07:58:00
121.L6ex6d 07:57:00 07:58:00
122.K6c-5c 07:57:00 07:58:00
123.L6d-6b+ 07:57:00 07:58:00
124.G5bx6b 07:57:00 07:59:00
125.B*4d 07:57:00 07:59:00
126.K5c-4c 07:57:00 07:59:00
127.B4dx6b+ 07:57:00 07:59:00
128.R*2i 07:57:00 07:59:00
129.S5e-4d 07:58:00 07:59:00
130.K4c-3d 07:58:00 07:59:00
Resigns 07:58:00 07:59:00
Black's attack is not powerful enough and defense against +Rx7i is
necessary. However, after 131.G*6i +R4h leaves black with no hope of
winning the game. A good win for Moriuchi with white to start this
Ryu-O match. After losing the Meijin title in straight games against
Habu, this will do his confidence a lot of good. Habu still seems to
be struggling to find his form.