38th Kio Match Game 1
[Black "Goda Masataka, Kio"]
[White "Watanabe Akira, Challenger"]
[Event "38th Kio-sen, Game 1"]
[Date "February 3rd 2013"]
1.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00
Watanabe is gunning for another title, being involved in both the Osho match and
the Kio match at the same time. The general feeling before the match was that Goda
will have his hands full fending off the challenge of an in-form Watanabe, but the
first psychological victory is for the Kio title holder: the furigoma for this
irst game resulted in no less than five pawns, giving Goda the black pieces.
2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:00:00
3.P2f-2e 00:00:00 00:00:00
4.P8d-8e 00:00:00 00:00:00
5.G6i-7h 00:01:00 00:00:00
6.G4a-3b 00:01:00 00:00:00
7.P2e-2d 00:01:00 00:00:00
8.P2cx2d 00:01:00 00:00:00
9.R2hx2d 00:01:00 00:00:00
10.P*2c 00:01:00 00:00:00
11.R2d-2h 00:01:00 00:00:00
12.P9c-9d 00:01:00 00:00:00
13.P9g-9f 00:01:00 00:00:00
14.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:00:00
15.S3i-3h 00:02:00 00:00:00
16.S7a-7b 00:02:00 00:00:00
17.S3h-2g 00:04:00 00:00:00
Very popular opening and one of the candidates to be played in this match as
well, so this was no surprise. This opening strategy often leads to a quick
fight, but in this game both players take their time to build a solid formation.
18.P8e-8f 00:04:00 00:01:00
19.P8gx8f 00:04:00 00:01:00
20.R8bx8f 00:04:00 00:01:00
21.P*8g 00:04:00 00:01:00
22.R8f-8d 00:04:00 00:02:00
23.S2g-3f 00:04:00 00:02:00
24.P7c-7d 00:04:00 00:02:00
25.P7g-7f 00:04:00 00:02:00
26.B2bx8h+ 00:04:00 00:03:00
27.S7ix8h 00:04:00 00:03:00
28.N2a-3c 00:04:00 00:03:00
29.P1g-1f 00:05:00 00:03:00
30.S3a-2b 00:05:00 00:03:00
31.P4g-4f 00:13:00 00:03:00
32.K5a-4b 00:13:00 00:04:00
33.S8h-7g 00:23:00 00:04:00
34.S7b-7c 00:23:00 00:06:00
35.S3f-4g 00:34:00 00:06:00
36.P2c-2d 00:34:00 00:07:00
37.S4g-5f 00:37:00 00:07:00
38.G6a-5b 00:37:00 00:13:00
39.P6g-6f 00:42:00 00:13:00
40.S2b-2c 00:42:00 00:14:00
41.G4i-5h 00:42:00 00:14:00
42.R8d-8b 00:42:00 00:15:00
43.P4f-4e 00:46:00 00:15:00
44.P1c-1d 00:46:00 00:27:00
45.K5i-6h 00:46:00 00:27:00
46.K4b-3a 00:46:00 00:27:00
47.B*4f 00:57:00 00:27:00
48.P5c-5d 00:57:00 00:40:00
49.K6h-7i 00:59:00 00:40:00
50.K3a-2b 00:59:00 00:45:00
51.K7i-8h 01:02:00 00:45:00
52.G5b-4b 01:02:00 00:59:00
53.R2h-4h 01:16:00 00:59:00
54.S7c-6d 01:16:00 01:24:00
55.P6f-6e 01:25:00 01:24:00
56.S6d-7c 01:25:00 01:24:00
57.P3g-3f 01:25:00 01:24:00
58.B*5c 01:25:00 01:31:00
59.N2i-3g 01:47:00 01:31:00
60.R8b-9b 01:47:00 01:32:00
61.R4h-2h 01:47:00 01:32:00
62.S7c-8d 01:47:00 01:32:00
63.P*2e 01:48:00 01:32:00
64.P2dx2e 01:48:00 01:37:00
65.N3gx2e 01:54:00 01:37:00
66.P*2d 01:54:00 01:37:00
67.N2ex3c+ 01:59:00 01:37:00
68.G4bx3c 01:59:00 01:37:00
69.G5h-6g 02:00:00 01:37:00
70.P9d-9e 02:00:00 01:46:00
Watanabe is the first one to attack. In the press room, the position was
considered to be about even, but because white is attacking, the majority of
the professionals analyzing the game seemed to prefer to play with the white
pieces.
71.N*8c! 02:25:00 01:46:00
Of course black cannot take the pawn on 9e because after 71.Px9e Sx9e Lx9e
Rx9e black cannot properly defend the edge file. Dropping the knight on a
unusual square with 71.N*8c aims at taking away the lance on 9a, thereby
taking the sting out of the edge attack.
72.N*7c 02:25:00 01:48:00
It seems a bit of a waste to drop the knight here, but white has little
choice. After 72.N7c Nx9a+ Rx9a L*8f white is in trouble. It is important
to keep the silver on 8d mobile.
73.P9fx9e 02:26:00 01:48:00
74.S8dx9e 02:26:00 01:48:00
75.N8cx9a+ 02:34:00 01:48:00
76.R9bx9a 02:34:00 01:48:00
77.L9ix9e 02:34:00 01:48:00
78.R9ax9e 02:34:00 01:48:00
79.P*9g 02:34:00 01:48:00
80.R9e-9d 02:34:00 03:10:00
Watanabe thought that because he had managed to take off the defending lance
he had a satisfying position, but he spent no less than 82 minutes on this
move. The black threat is to play S*8d R9b Sx7c+ Nx7c Bx7c+, but there is no
good defense. For example, 80.R9b is answered by 81.S*8c R9c S8b= R8c Sx8a=
N8e S7b= which is good for black and 80.L*8c by 81.S*7b. The only way to avoid
a strong silver drop is 80.L*8b, but this puts the lance in the diagonal of
the bishop, so white no longer can play the natural N8e. Goda had expected
80.P*9h, but after 81.S8f R9d black can just take this pawn with Kx9h. In the
end, Watanabe decided to play 80.R9d, but this is not a very good position for
the rook. It keeps the attacking options open, but doesn't really work well
in defense.
81.P6e-6d! 02:52:00 03:10:00
This invites the white pawn to 6e which is risky, but Goda has judged it very well.
82.P6cx6d 02:52:00 03:10:00
83.S*6c 02:52:00 03:10:00
84.P6d-6e 02:52:00 03:16:00
85.S6cx5d+ 02:55:00 03:16:00
86.B5c-3a 02:55:00 03:16:00
87.P4e-4d 03:01:00 03:16:00
88.P4cx4d 03:01:00 03:17:00
89.P*2e 03:03:00 03:17:00
90.P2dx2e 03:03:00 03:17:00
91.P1f-1e 03:05:00 03:17:00
92.P1dx1e 03:05:00 03:17:00
93.P*4e 03:05:00 03:17:00
94.N*6f 03:05:00 03:32:00
95.P4ex4d 03:19:00 03:32:00
96.N7c-8e 03:19:00 03:32:00
97.L*9f! 03:23:00 03:32:00
After the game Goda admitted that this was a strange move. Normally, it would be
a bad move because this lance is lost after P*9e next. However, in this case it
slows the white attack down long enough for the black attack to become decisively
strong.
98.P*9e 03:23:00 03:40:00
Watanabe knew that this would be too slow, but he has no alternative. For example,
98.Nx9g+ Nx9g Rx9f P*9h L*9c N*8i and it becomes quite easy for the white king to
escape to the right.
99.P4d-4c+ 03:25:00 03:40:00
100.P9ex9f 03:25:00 03:40:00
101.+P4cx3c 03:28:00 03:40:00
102.G3bx3c 03:28:00 03:40:00
103.G6gx6f 03:28:00 03:40:00
104.L*4a 03:28:00 03:49:00
105.P*4d 03:33:00 03:49:00
106.P6ex6f 03:33:00 03:51:00
107.N*4e 03:34:00 03:51:00
108.G3c-3b 03:34:00 03:52:00
109.P9gx9f! 03:35:00 03:52:00
The decisive move. Giving the opponent the initiative in a sharp endgame is
frightening, but the white edge attack now becomes a lot less threatening and
getting a pawn in hand is of vital importance because the square 2d is begging
for a pawn drop. Watanabe said that he felt that he had lost the game after Px9f,
but there was no point where he could have played Px9g+, because the king would
just escape with K7i.
110.L*2f 03:35:00 03:56:00
111.R2h-6h 03:35:00 03:56:00
112.R9dx9f 03:35:00 03:56:00
113.P*2d 03:38:00 03:56:00
114.S2c-1d 03:38:00 03:56:00
115.S7g-8f 03:42:00 03:56:00
116.B3ax8f 03:42:00 03:59:00
117.P8gx8f 03:42:00 03:59:00
118.G*9h 03:42:00 03:59:00
119.K8h-7i 03:42:00 03:59:00
120.G9hx8i 03:42:00 03:59:00
121.K7ix8i 03:44:00 03:59:00
122.N*7g 03:44:00 03:59:00
123.G7hx7g 03:44:00 03:59:00
124.N8ex7g+ 03:44:00 03:59:00
125.G*3c 03:44:00 03:59:00
Resigns 03:44:00 03:59:00
Mate after 126.Gx3c Nx3c+ Kx3c N*4e K2b G*3c K1b G*2b etc., so Watanabe resigned
here. A great start for Goda in a match that he may not have felt very confident
about going in. However, now the pressure is on Watanabe, who must win the second
game with the black pieces to avoid digging himself into a deep hole in this match.