51st Oi Match Game 6 (Replay)

[Black "Hirose Akihito, Challenger"]
[White "Fukaura Koichi, Oi"]
[Event "51st Oi-sen, Replay game 6"]
[Date "September 2nd 2010"]
1.P7g-7f     05:59:00  00:00:00
2.P8c-8d     05:59:00  05:35:00
3.R2h-6h     05:59:00  05:35:00
4.P3c-3d     05:59:00  05:35:00
5.P6g-6f     05:59:00  05:35:00
6.S7a-6b     05:59:00  05:35:00
7.K5i-4h     05:59:00  05:35:00
8.K5a-4b     05:59:00  05:35:00
9.K4h-3h     05:59:00  05:35:00
10.K4b-3b    05:59:00  05:35:00
11.S7i-7h    05:59:00  05:35:00
12.P5c-5d    05:59:00  05:35:00
13.K3h-2h    05:59:00  05:35:00
14.B2b-3c    05:59:00  05:35:00
15.S7h-6g    05:59:00  05:35:00
16.S6b-5c    05:59:00  05:35:00
17.L1i-1h    05:59:00  05:35:00
18.K3b-2b    05:59:00  05:35:00
19.K2h-1i    05:59:00  05:35:00

Without any hesitation, Hirose again plays the Furibisha Anaguma.

20.G6a-5b    05:59:00  05:35:00
21.S3i-2h    05:59:00  05:35:00
22.S3a-3b    05:59:00  05:35:00

Diagram 1

Fukaura changes his strategy by playing a Mino castle here.

23.G6i-5h    05:59:00  05:35:00
24.P2c-2d    05:59:00  05:35:00
25.P4g-4f    05:59:00  05:35:00
26.S3b-2c    05:59:00  05:35:00
27.G5h-4g    05:59:00  05:35:00
28.G4a-3b    05:59:00  05:35:00

Fukaura further develops his castle and moves into a Silver Crown formation. Not an 
uncommon way to fight the Furibisha Anaguma, but it is the first time in this match 
that Fukaura plays this.

29.P3g-3f    05:59:00  05:35:00
30.P1c-1d    05:59:00  05:35:00
31.G4i-3i    05:59:00  05:35:00
32.P7c-7d    05:59:00  05:37:00
33.R6h-3h    06:11:00  05:37:00
34.P4c-4d    06:11:00  05:38:00
35.P6f-6e    06:12:00  05:38:00
36.P8d-8e    06:12:00  06:10:00
37.B8h-7g    06:12:00  06:10:00
38.P7d-7e    06:12:00  06:10:00

Diagram 2

It looks risky to start the attack with a loose gold on 5b, so most games continued 
here with 38.G5bx4c here. Of course, Fukaura has prepared all this at home, so he must 
have been comfortable with starting the attack early.

39.P7fx7e    06:12:00  06:10:00
40.P8e-8f    06:12:00  06:10:00
41.P8gx8f    06:25:00  06:10:00
42.P4d-4e    06:25:00  06:10:00
43.R3h-8h    06:25:00  06:10:00

This doesn't seem to be a very effective way to avoid a breakthrough on the 8th file. 
The alternative 43.S6f Px4f Gx4f P*7f is bad for black, but 43.S5f looks alright here.

44.B3cx7g+   06:25:00  06:12:00
45.N8ix7g    06:25:00  06:12:00
46.B*5e      06:25:00  06:12:00
47.R8h-8g    06:26:00  06:12:00
48.P4ex4f    06:26:00  06:13:00
49.G4g-3g    06:26:00  06:13:00
50.P*7f      06:26:00  06:37:00
51.S6gx7f    06:26:00  06:37:00

White has managed to scatter the black pieces a little, and the general opinion was 
that white had the better position. However, Hirose has a different opinion.

52.N2a-3c    06:26:00  06:37:00
53.G3g-3h    06:32:00  06:37:00
54.S5c-4d    06:32:00  06:41:00
55.S7f-6g    07:08:00  06:41:00

This light pullback of the silver changed the minds of the professionals in the press 
room. Maybe black is already a little better here.

56.S4d-4e    07:08:00  06:41:00
57.S6g-5f    07:20:00  06:41:00
58.S4ex5f    07:20:00  06:50:00
59.P5gx5f    07:20:00  06:50:00
60.B5e-6f    07:20:00  06:50:00
61.N7g-8e    07:20:00  06:50:00
62.B6fx9i+   07:20:00  07:00:00
63.P7e-7d    07:20:00  07:00:00
64.L*7a      07:20:00  07:00:00

Diagram 3

A pure defense drop is hard to play and Hirose admitted after the game that this lance 
drop came as a total surprise.

65.S*4a?     07:25:00  07:00:00

Surprise invites the mistake. This rushes the attack. If black would have played 65,B*2f 
here, he would have kept the advantage.

66.G5b-4b    07:25:00  07:04:00
67.S4ax3b+   07:25:00  07:04:00
68.G4bx3b    07:25:00  07:04:00
69.P6e-6d    07:25:00  07:04:00
70.P6cx6d    07:25:00  07:06:00
71.B*5c      07:25:00  07:06:00
72.R8b-7b    07:25:00  07:08:00
73.P*4c      07:25:00  07:08:00
74.S*5b      07:25:00  07:13:00
75.B5cx6d+   07:28:00  07:13:00
76.S5bx4c    07:28:00  07:13:00
77.P7d-7c+   07:30:00  07:13:00
78.N8ax7c    07:30:00  07:13:00
79.N8ex7c+   07:30:00  07:13:00
80.R7bx7c    07:30:00  07:13:00
81.+B6dx7c   07:30:00  07:13:00
82.L7ax7c    07:30:00  07:13:00

It looks like black has accomplished a lot, but the position is unclear.

83.R8g-6g    07:30:00  07:13:00
84.P*6f      07:30:00  07:15:00
85.R6g-6i    07:30:00  07:15:00
86.+B9i-7g   07:30:00  07:15:00
87.P*4d      07:31:00  07:15:00
88.S4cx4d    07:31:00  07:15:00
89.R*4a      07:31:00  07:15:00
90.P6f-6g+   07:31:00  07:15:00
91.G*2a      07:34:00  07:15:00
92.K2b-1c    07:34:00  07:15:00
93.N*5e      07:34:00  07:15:00
94.S4dx5e    07:34:00  07:21:00
95.P5fx5e    07:34:00  07:21:00
96.B*7d      07:34:00  07:22:00
97.R4ax9a+   07:35:00  07:22:00
98.P4f-4g+   07:35:00  07:25:00
99.G3hx4g    07:40:00  07:25:00
100.P2d-2e!  07:40:00  07:27:00

Diagram 4

Strong move by Fukaura. This pawn is opening an escape route for the king and also 
aims at the weak spot of the Anaguma at 2g.

101.G4g-4f   07:47:00  07:27:00
102.P*4e     07:47:00  07:33:00
103.+R9a-8b  07:56:00  07:33:00
104.P4ex4f   07:56:00  07:33:00
105.S*2b     07:56:00  07:33:00
106.K1c-2d   07:56:00  07:33:00
107.+R8bx7c  07:56:00  07:33:00
108.+B7gx5e  07:56:00  07:42:00
109.S2bx3c=  07:56:00  07:42:00
110.G3bx3c   07:56:00  07:42:00
111.+R7cx7d  07:56:00  07:42:00
112.P4f-4g+  07:56:00  07:42:00
113.B*7c     07:56:00  07:42:00
114.P*6d     07:56:00  07:46:00
115.B7cx6d+  07:56:00  07:46:00
116.+B5ex6d  07:56:00  07:46:00
117.+R7dx6d  07:56:00  07:46:00
118.B*4f     07:56:00  07:49:00
119.N*1f     07:58:00  07:49:00
120.K2d-1e   07:58:00  07:49:00
121.+R6dx6g  07:58:00  07:49:00
122.S*3h     07:58:00  07:49:00
123.G3ix3h   07:58:00  07:49:00
124.+P4gx3h  07:58:00  07:49:00
125.B*3g     07:58:00  07:49:00

Diagram 5

126.B4fx3g+? 07:58:00  07:51:00

After two long days of play, both players must have been very tired and they are also 
running out of time. Fukaura makes the important mistake, but that was very hard to see 
in such a limited time (he has only 2 minutes remaining). Correct was 126.N*2f Bx4f +Px2h 
Bx2h S*3h Px2f N*2g +Rx2g Sx2g+ which is good for white (for example, N*3i Px2f B*4h +Sx2h 
Kx2h B*4f S*3g S*4g). However, Fukaura gets another chance to save his Oi title.

127.+R6gx3g  07:58:00  07:51:00
128.+P3hx3g  07:58:00  07:51:00
129.S2hx3g   07:58:00  07:51:00
130.N*2f     07:58:00  07:51:00
131.S*2h     07:59:00  07:51:00
132.B*5e     07:59:00  07:53:00
133.P2gx2f   07:59:00  07:53:00
134.B5ex3g+  07:59:00  07:55:00
135.N2ix3g   07:59:00  07:55:00
136.G*3h     07:59:00  07:56:00
137.N*2g     07:59:00  07:56:00
138.K1ex2f   07:59:00  07:56:00
139.L*2i     07:59:00  07:56:00
140.G3hx2h   07:59:00  07:56:00
141.L2ix2h   07:59:00  07:56:00
142.S*3h     07:59:00  07:56:00
143.G*3i     07:59:00  07:56:00

Diagram 6

144.R*5h?    07:59:00  07:57:00

Only this is the decisive mistake. After 145.Sx3i+ Rx3i S*4h white still has the upper 
hand. For example, N3e K1e B*6f N*2g Lx2g S*2h Kx2h Sx3i= Bx3i G*4g S*3h R*5i.

145.G3ix3h   07:59:00  07:57:00
146.R5hx3h+  07:59:00  07:57:00
147.S*2i     07:59:00  07:57:00
148.+R3hx2i  07:59:00  07:57:00
149.R6ix2i   07:59:00  07:57:00
150.S*3h     07:59:00  07:57:00
151.N2g-3e   07:59:00  07:57:00

Now the white king is getting clobbered by four major pieces and this is too much to 
survive.

152.K2fx3f   07:59:00  07:57:00
153.B*4e     07:59:00  07:57:00
154.K3fx3e   07:59:00  07:57:00
155.B*5c     07:59:00  07:57:00
156.K3e-4f   07:59:00  07:57:00
157.R*5f     07:59:00  07:57:00
158.K4f-4g   07:59:00  07:58:00
159.P*4h     07:59:00  07:58:00
160.K4gx3g   07:59:00  07:58:00
161.R5f-3f   07:59:00  07:58:00
Resigns      07:59:00  07:59:00

Final Diagram

Here Fukaura resigned, handing over his Oi title to Hirose. Hirose is now the youngest 
current major title holder at 23 years. He is also the first university student to win 
a major title as he studies mathematics at Waseda University. He was always heralded 
as a great talent ever since he became professional in 2005, but it has taken him a 
while to break through. However, this year he has been playing exceptionally well and 
this first title is a result of this. Beating Habu in the play-off and taking the Oi 
title from Fukaura in six games is no small feat, especially considering that Fukaura 
has held this title for three consecutive years. The next couple of year will have to 
show if Hirose can join Watanabe as a new front to the incredibly strong "Habu Generation".