25th Kio Match Game 2
Black: Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger
White: Habu Yoshiharu, Kio
25th Kio-sen, Game 2, February 20th 2000
1.P7g-7f 0/0 0/0
2.P3c-3d 0/0 2/2
3.P2g-2f 0/0 0/2
4.P8c-8d 0/0 0/2
5.P2f-2e 0/0 0/2
6.P8d-8e 0/0 0/2
7.G6i-7h 0/0 0/2
8.G4a-3b 0/0 0/2
9.P2e-2d 0/0 0/2
10.P2cx2d 0/0 0/2
11.R2hx2d 0/0 0/2
12.P8e-8f 0/0 0/2
13.P8gx8f 0/0 0/2
14.R8bx8f 0/0 0/2
15.R2dx3d 0/0 0/2
16.N2a-3c 0/0 0/2
17.K5i-5h 21/21 0/2
18.K5a-6b 0/21 4/6
19.P*8g 2/23 0/6
20.R8fx7f 0/23 8/14
21.R3d-8d 0/23 0/14
22.P*8b 0/23 1/15
23.P*2c 3/26 0/15
24.G3bx2c 0/26 3/18
25.P*2d 0/26 0/18
26.N3c-4e 0/26 6/24
27.G7h-7g 5/31 0/24
28.B2bx7g+ 0/31 3/27
29.B8hx7g 1/32 0/27
30.R7fx7g+ 0/32 1/28
Moriuchi has prepared a very violent variation for this vital second game. Just
over an hour played and the board is already on fire. This is a known position,
especially for Habu, who had it with white last year against Tanigawa in the
third game of the Oi title match. This game continued with 30.G2b R8e G*7e
R8d P7d and white got a good position because of the bad black rook. However,
already after the game it was concluded that R8d was a bad move and that
black could have gotten a winning position if he would have played R9e
followed by R9f and exchange of the rooks. Habu's comment at the time:
"Not the type of shogi to move away the gold". Here he picks the sharpest
variation.
31.N8ix7g 0/32 0/28
32.B*7e 0/32 0/28
33.B*6f 1/33 0/28
34.B7ex8d 0/33 2/30
35.B6fx8d 1/34 0/30
36.R*8i 0/34 1/31
37.B*8h 27/61 0/31
38.G*7f 0/61 14/45
Looks a bit heavy, but if white plays more slowly, K6h followed by K7h will
give black the rook in hand.
39.N7g-6e! 48/109 0/45
Tough decision, since this and 39.Px2c+ both look good. Taking the gold was
played in the other known game with this variation between Matsuo (4-dan) and
Miyata (3-dan) in the Shinjin-O tournament. There black also got a good
position after 40.Gx8g G*9h Gx7g Bx7g Rx7i+ B8h +R7d. However, the gold on
9h is cause for concern and in the end white managed to turn the tables and
win the game. Moriuchi's N6e is more direct and analysed to the end.
40.G7fx8g 0/109 12/57
Still no time to pull back the gold. 40.G2b fails to Bx2b+ Sx2b R*3b and
black's attack is very quick.
41.B8hx1a+ 23/132 0/57
42.R8ix7i+ 0/132 47/104
43.P2dx2c+ 0/132 0/104
44.P*2b 0/132 18/122
Desperate. 44.S*6h fails to 45.+B5e Nx5g+ Bx5g Sx5g+ Kx5g +Rx4i and white is
mated after Nx5c+ Kx5c S*5d K6b Sx6c+ Kx6c N*7e etc. Black also wins after
44.G7g +Bx7g +Rx7g G*6h +R7d G*7e.
45.K5h-4h 14/146 0/122
This ends all white hopes. This early king escape becomes extra effective
because of white's last move. Without the possibility of dropping pawns on
the second file, white has no way to get to the king. From now on, it is
all black in this game.
46.G8g-7g 0/146 9/131
47.+B1a-2a 32/178 0/131
48.S3a-4b 0/178 11/142
The fork 48.+R8h is not good because of G*5h +Rx8d +Bx3a K7b R*3b S6b (K8c
+Bx5c followed by L*8f is also bad) Nx5c+ P*5f L*8f and black wins.
49.G*7d 30/208 0/142
Game over. The white king has no escape.
50.S7a-7b 0/208 8/150
51.+P2c-3c 9/217 0/150
52.S4b-5a 0/217 29/179
53.+B2ax4c 0/217 0/179
54.S*5b 0/217 5/184
55.R*3b 3/220 0/184
56.K6b-7a 0/220 1/185
57.N6ex5c= 4/224 0/185
58.G7gx6g 0/224 26/211
59.N5cx6a+ 2/226 0/211
60.S7bx6a 0/226 0/211
61.+B4c-4d 2/228 0/211
Resigns 0/228 0/211
Time: 03:48:00 03:31:00
Habu has the choice between 62.P*5c +Bx4e +Rx7d G*7e and losing all his
pieces, 62.N*5c +Bx5c Sx5c N*8c Px8c G*8b mate or resigning.
So Moriuchi's opening preparation paid off, resulting in a perfect win
straight from a previously known position. Even though Habu made no
mistake, he also had no chance. This opening variation will no longer
be played by white. The match is now even and down to a best of three
games. Even though one still has to favour Habu slightly, in the first
two games Moriuchi has shown that he is in good form and that he is
well prepared. This one might go to five games.