17th Ryu-O Match Game 1
[Black "Watanabe Akira, Challenger"]
[White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Ryu-O"]
[Event "17th Ryu-O sen, Game 1"]
[Date "October 19th and 20th 2004"]
1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:02:00
3.S7i-6h 00:03:00 00:02:00
4.P3c-3d 00:03:00 00:03:00
5.P6g-6f 00:04:00 00:03:00
6.S7a-6b 00:04:00 00:03:00
7.P5g-5f 00:04:00 00:03:00
8.P5c-5d 00:04:00 00:04:00
9.S3i-4h 00:05:00 00:04:00
10.S3a-4b 00:05:00 00:04:00
11.G4i-5h 00:05:00 00:04:00
12.G4a-3b 00:05:00 00:09:00
13.G6i-7h 00:07:00 00:09:00
14.K5a-4a 00:07:00 00:16:00
15.K5i-6i 00:10:00 00:16:00
16.P7c-7d 00:10:00 00:16:00
17.S6h-7g 00:19:00 00:16:00
18.P6c-6d 00:19:00 00:24:00
19.P2g-2f 00:25:00 00:24:00
20.N8a-7c 00:25:00 00:26:00
21.G5h-6g 00:30:00 00:26:00
22.P8d-8e 00:30:00 00:34:00
23.P2f-2e 00:43:00 00:34:00
24.G6a-5b 00:43:00 00:35:00
25.P3g-3f 00:51:00 00:35:00
26.S4b-5c 00:51:00 01:06:00
Watanabe is a specialist in the Yagura, so it was no surprise
he picked this opening for this important game. The question was
what Moriuchi would do with the white pieces. The Quick Attack
Yagura was a complete surprise. It is generally considered an
opening that is difficult to win for white. Attacking positively
with white is appealing, especially at the amateur level, but among
professionals the weakness of the white king is considered the major
factor in this opening. If black defends properly, the counter attack
will be devastating. Of course, Moriuchi did not choose this opening
for nothing.
27.B8h-7i 01:43:00 01:06:00
28.P6d-6e 01:43:00 01:40:00
29.P6fx6e 01:44:00 01:40:00
30.P8e-8f 01:44:00 01:40:00
31.P8gx8f 01:44:00 01:40:00
32.N7cx6e 01:44:00 01:40:00
33.S7g-6f 01:44:00 01:40:00
34.R8bx8f 01:44:00 01:41:00
35.P*8g 01:44:00 01:41:00
36.R8f-8a 01:44:00 01:41:00
37.P2e-2d 01:45:00 01:41:00
38.P2cx2d 01:45:00 01:41:00
39.B7ix2d 01:45:00 01:41:00
40.P*2f!? 01:45:00 02:18:00
The move Moriuchi wanted to try. In this position 40.P*2c is a known
move, but after 41.B4f, white can no longer attack strongly and the
weaknesses around the white king are a big problem. After 40.P*2f,
white threatens Bx6f followed by S*2g, so black has to do something.
41.S4h-5i! 02:29:00 02:18:00
The best move. 41.Rx2f is not good because of 42.B4d R2e N3c Rx6e P*6d
R9e P9d R9f P8e R8f P*8e and the black rook dies. Also, 41.N3g does
not really defend, because white can still play 42.Bx6f Gx6f S*2g R2i
S3h+ with attack on rook and silver.
42.P7d-7e 02:29:00 02:29:00
43.B2d-4f 03:32:00 02:29:00
44.B2bx6f!? 03:32:00 03:42:00
Looks like an overplay, but Moriuchi might not have much choice. As
Fukaura pointed out, the timing of this move is interesting. It was
still played on the first day and usually that is not something you want
to do in a two-day match. With 44.Bx6f white shows that he is going all
out from now on and Watanabe will have had all the time to mentally
prepare himself for the battle ahead. It is even possible that Moriuchi
tried to test his young challenger a little. Playing a two-day game for
the first time in his career must be difficult. Moriuchi, on the other
hand, seems to play his best shogi in two-day games.
45.G6gx6f 03:35:00 03:42:00
46.S*5g 03:35:00 03:46:00
47.G6fx6e 03:52:00 03:46:00
The sealed move. Whatever the reason, it is quite rare to have such an
advanced position after the first day.
48.S5gx4f+ 03:52:00 03:49:00
49.P4gx4f 03:54:00 03:49:00
50.B*4g 03:54:00 03:51:00
51.S5i-5h 03:55:00 03:51:00
52.B4gx5f+ 03:55:00 03:55:00
53.P*6f 04:15:00 03:55:00
54.P*6d 04:15:00 05:04:00
55.G6ex7e 04:24:00 05:04:00
56.P*7d 04:24:00 05:08:00
57.R2hx2f 04:27:00 05:08:00
58.P*2b 04:27:00 05:12:00
59.P*2c! 04:49:00 05:12:00
This needed accurate judgment well in advance, as this is not the proper
way to play this position. Shogi doctrine says that if the opponent has
blocked his escape route to one side, one should attack at the other side.
However, Watanabe said after the game that there were no proper attacking
moves on the left and that he felt that a breakthrough on the second file
would also be sufficient.
60.P2bx2c 04:49:00 05:41:00
61.N*1e 04:51:00 05:41:00
62.+B5fx4f 04:51:00 05:48:00
Unfortunately for Moriuchi, he has no choice but to release the gold on 7e.
62.P3e seems the right move to defend 2c and keep the gold on 7e, but then
63.S*5g is good for black after 64.+Bx7h Kx7h Px7e Nx2c+.
63.G7ex7d 05:06:00 05:48:00
64.+B4f-2d 05:06:00 05:50:00
65.R2fx2d 05:19:00 05:50:00
66.P2cx2d 05:19:00 05:50:00
67.P*2b 05:19:00 05:50:00
68.P*7g 05:19:00 06:01:00
69.N8ix7g 05:19:00 06:01:00
70.R*8i 05:19:00 06:03:00
71.B*7i 05:21:00 06:03:00
72.G3bx2b 05:21:00 06:15:00
73.S*2c 05:22:00 06:15:00
74.G2b-3c 05:22:00 06:15:00
75.P*2b 05:23:00 06:15:00
76.P1c-1d 05:23:00 06:40:00
77.P2bx2a+ 05:34:00 06:40:00
78.P1dx1e 05:34:00 06:40:00
79.S2cx3d+! 05:34:00 06:40:00
The deciding move. The obvious 79.S2b= is unclear after 80.G3b.
80.G3cx3d 05:34:00 07:17:00
Again no choice. 80.G3b fails to 81.N*7c R7a P*2c and the two tokins on the
right are too strong.
81.B*2c 05:35:00 07:17:00
82.K4a-5a 05:35:00 07:17:00
83.B2cx3d+ 05:35:00 07:17:00
But this is also winning for black. This promoted bishop works in attack and
defense. White can struggle a little, but there is no way to win.
84.R8a-7a 05:35:00 07:19:00
85.G7d-8c 05:49:00 07:19:00
86.R8ix9i+ 05:49:00 07:34:00
87.G*7b 05:58:00 07:34:00
88.S*4h 05:58:00 07:34:00
89.P*4i 06:09:00 07:34:00
Resigns 06:09:00 07:35:00
After 90.Rx7b Gx7b G*5i K6h the white attack is stopped, while 90.N*5g Sx5g
Sx5g+ fails to +Bx2d with a fork on king and silver. A dream start for Watanabe
in his first Ryu-O match. The key might have been that he never seemed to
feel any pressure. For example, he was watching baseball in the press room
on the first day when Moriuchi was thinking about his move. Moriuchi has
been warned, this inexperienced challenger is not a push-over.