48th Oza Match Game 5
Black: Fujii Takeshi, Challenger
White: Habu Yoshiharu, Oza
48th Oza-sen, Game 5, October 13th 2000
1.P7g-7f 1/1 0/0
The furigoma gave Fujii black. Even though this might be considered a slight
advantage, Habu may not have been too unhappy about this. In the two previous
matches he played, Habu also had white in the decisive game and he won both.
2.P3c-3d 0/1 2/2
3.P1g-1f 5/6 0/2
4.P8c-8d 0/6 3/5
5.P6g-6f 1/7 0/5
6.S7a-6b 0/7 1/6
7.S7i-7h 22/29 0/6
8.P5c-5d 0/29 6/12
9.R2h-6h 0/29 0/12
10.K5a-4b 0/29 2/14
11.S3i-3h 1/30 0/14
12.K4b-3b 0/30 1/15
13.B8h-7g 1/31 0/15
14.P1c-1d 0/31 6/21
15.P4g-4f 39/70 0/21
16.G6a-5b 0/70 8/29
17.S7h-6g 9/79 0/29
18.S6b-5c 0/79 30/59
19.K5i-4h 12/91 0/59
20.P7c-7d 0/91 12/71
21.K4h-3i 18/109 0/71
22.P8d-8e 0/109 14/85
23.G6i-5h 3/112 0/85
24.S5c-6d 0/112 6/91
Like in game 5, Habu chooses the Quick Attack. He did not have much success
then as he did not get a good position after the opening. Still, he won the
game and that may have been the reason to play it again.
25.R6h-7h 4/116 0/91
26.P7d-7e 0/116 21/112
27.K3i-2h 12/128 0/112
28.P7ex7f 0/128 48/160
29.S6gx7f 0/128 0/160
30.R8b-7b 0/128 0/160
31.G5h-6g 4/132 0/160
It is unusual to see such a well-analysed opening in a title match game.
Fujii plays the move that is considered best. The well-known counter attack
32.P6e is considered dangerous here after 33.Bx7g+ Rx7g S5e S6g Rx7g+
Nx7g P*7f Sx7f R*7i R*7a Rx7g+ B*6g G5b-4b P*7h +R8h Rx8a+ +Rx9i +R9a
S4f and having the king on 2h here is actually a disadvantage as it is on
the line of the dragon.
32.S6d-5e 0/132 20/180
Tempting is 32.Rx7f Gx7f S*6g, but after P6e black has no problems.
33.R7h-4h 10/142 0/180
34.P9c-9d 0/142 9/189
35.P4f-4e 9/151 0/189
36.B2b-3c 0/151 10/199
37.P9g-9f 27/178 0/199
38.S3a-4b 0/178 3/202
39.B7g-8h 8/186 0/202
40.S5e-6d 0/186 4/206
41.P6f-6e 11/197 0/206
42.B3cx8h+ 0/197 5/211
43.R4hx8h 0/197 0/211
44.S6d-7e 0/197 0/211
45.P*7g 0/197 0/211
46.S7ex7f 0/197 12/223
47.P7gx7f 0/197 0/223
48.B*3c 0/197 7/230
49.B*7g 3/200 0/230
50.R7b-8b 0/200 0/230
51.B7gx3c+ 3/203 0/230
52.S4bx3c 0/203 4/234
53.N8i-7g 18/221 0/234
54.B*5c 0/221 19/253
55.P3g-3f?! 11/232 0/253
It seemed that black has gotten a slight advantage from the opening, but this
is a small mistake. It was hard to see that Habu's next move is strong, though.
After the game Fujii suggested 55.G5f as better. For example, 55.G5f R7b G6f
B3e G6g. This is very hard to play for a professional as it gives up three
moves. However, it would not have given Habu a chance to attack.
56.P9d-9e! 0/232 1/254
A total surprise for Fujii and all professionals in the press room. A pawn
push at the other side of the board (P1e) was suggested, but an edge attack
on the 9th file seems way too far from the black king. Habu shows why he has
no equal. The edge attack is quite hard to defend against and it definitely
broke Fujii's rhythm.
57.P9fx9e 11/243 0/254
58.P*9f 0/243 0/254
59.B*4f 13/256 0/254
60.R8b-9b 0/256 4/258
61.R8h-4h 3/259 0/258
62.P9f-9g+ 0/259 0/258
63.G6g-5f? 4/263 0/258
This might be the losing move, but again Fujii can be excused for overlooking
Habu's next move, as this move was exactly the reason why he played G5f in
the first place. Better was 63.P6d Bx6d Bx6d Px6d Lx9g P8f Px8f P*9f Lx9f
B*6i and the position is unclear.
64.P8e-8f! 0/263 5/263
Habu plays it anyway. Surely, there is no way this pawn promotion can be in
time. However, "a tokin is faster than you think"...
65.N7g-8e 13/276 0/263
66.P8fx8g+ 0/276 1/264
67.N8e-7c+ 3/279 0/264
68.N8ax7c 0/279 4/268
69.B4fx7c+ 0/279 0/268
70.P1d-1e 0/279 0/268
71.P1fx1e 0/279 0/268
72.P*1g 0/279 3/271
73.L1ix1g 1/280 0/271
74.N*2e 0/280 0/271
75.S*2f 0/280 0/271
76.N2ex1g+ 0/280 0/271
77.S2fx1g 0/280 0/271
78.+P8g-7g 0/280 0/271
79.P2g-2f 0/280 0/271
80.+P7g-6g 0/280 2/273
81.+B7c-4f 5/285 0/273
82.G4a-4b! 0/285 2/275
Cool play. 82.Rx9e seems good enough for a white advantage, but this gold
move is much better. Creating an escape route on 4a defends well against
N*2e, which is the only way black can attack. Perfect timing of the switch
between attack and defence is one of the trademarks of Habu's style of play.
83.P*8c 4/289 0/275
84.R9bx9e 0/289 0/275
Only now Habu takes this pawn.
85.N*2e 0/289 0/275
86.S3c-2d 0/289 3/278
87.S3h-2g 0/289 0/278
88.R9e-8e 0/289 2/280
89.+B4fx9a 1/290 0/280
90.R8e-8i+ 0/290 0/280
91.G4i-3h 0/290 0/280
92.S*4i 0/290 2/282
93.+B9a-3g 1/291 0/282
94.+P6g-5h 0/291 0/282
95.R4h-4g 0/291 0/282
96.S4ix3h= 0/291 3/285
97.+B3gx3h 0/291 0/285
98.G*4h 0/291 3/288
99.R4gx4h 0/291 0/288
100.+P5hx4h 0/291 0/288
101.+B3hx4h 0/291 0/288
102.R*7h 0/291 0/288
103.G*3h 0/291 0/288
104.B5c-8f! 0/291 5/293
A nice decisive move. 104.Sx2e followed by Bx1g+ also seems good enough
to win, but Habu uses this bishop to attack from the other side. The power
of the three major pieces is awesome and despite a desperate last stand
Fujii has no chance to win.
105.+B4h-3g 3/294 0/293
106.B8f-5i+ 0/294 1/294
107.L*4h 0/294 0/294
108.R7h-7i+ 0/294 0/294
109.N*4d 0/294 0/294
110.P4cx4d 0/294 0/294
111.P4ex4d 0/294 0/294
112.+B5i-4i 0/294 0/294
113.P4d-4c+ 0/294 0/294
114.G5bx4c 0/294 0/294
115.L4hx4c+ 0/294 0/294
116.G4bx4c 0/294 0/294
117.+B3g-7c 0/294 0/294
118.+B4ix3h 0/294 1/295
119.S2gx3h 0/294 0/295
120.+R7i-3i 0/294 0/295
121.K2h-3g 0/294 0/295
122.+R8i-4i 0/294 0/295
123.S*4g 0/294 0/295
124.+R4ix4g 0/294 0/295
125.K3gx4g 0/294 0/295
126.G*4h 0/294 0/295
Resigns 0/294 0/295
Time: 04:54:00 04:55:00
If 127.K4f next, then S*3e Px3e Sx3e and mate after K3g +Rx3h or K4e G4d. So,
Habu does it again as he wins the decisive game in the third title match
in a row. It is also Habu's 9th consecutive Oza title, which extends his
previous record. Second is Nakahara with 6 consecutive Oza titles, but
Nakahara also won the Oza four times in a row twice, so Habu still isn't
near the record number of Oza titles. For Fujii this match will be a
disappointment, but he does not have time to reflect long, as he will
meet Habu again in the Ryu-O match that starts almost immediately.