53rd Osho Match Game 1

[Black "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger"]
[White "Habu Yoshiharu, Osho"]
[Event "53rd Osho-sen, Game 1"]
[Date "January 14th and 15th 2004"]
1.P7g-7f     00:00:00  00:00:00
2.P8c-8d     00:00:00  00:02:00
3.P5g-5f     00:03:00  00:02:00

Since last Autumn's Ryu-O title match, observers have noted a change 
in Moriuchi”Ēs playing style. He seems to play much more positively, 
taking the game to his opponent. This first game of the Osho title 
match is another example. The move 3.P5f is a move often played by 
Furibisha players (which Moriuchi is not) and 4.P3d is then answered 
by P5e and R5h, while 4.P8e B7g P5d R8h is another development often 
seen. Moriuchi has something else in mind.

4.P8d-8e     00:03:00  00:21:00
5.B8h-7g     00:03:00  00:21:00
6.P5c-5d     00:03:00  00:21:00
7.S7i-8h     00:14:00  00:21:00

Diagram 1

A new way of playing this position. Moriuchi does not go for the 
Furibisha, but wants to play Ibisha instead. It seems Moriuchi had 
experience with this move in training games and that it is actually 
difficult for white to find a good response.

8.S7a-6b     00:14:00  01:31:00

Played after 70 minutes thought. The problem for white is that the 
natural 8.P3d is good for black after 9.Bx2b+ Sx2b B*5c. For example, 
B*5g R5h B8d+ P5e Px5e Rx5e and white is stuck for a good defense. 
After Habu's 8.S6b black can exchange the pawn in front of the rook, 
while white cannot. In return, the black wall silver on 8h takes 
needs time to be resolved. If black can not improve the shape of 
this silver or if white can use that time to set up a good attack, 
white will have the advantage. If not, black will have the advantage. 
This is now going to be the theme of the middle game.

9.P2g-2f     00:16:00  01:31:00
10.P3c-3d    00:16:00  01:32:00
11.P2f-2e    00:17:00  01:32:00
12.S6b-5c    00:17:00  01:32:00
13.P2e-2d    00:25:00  01:32:00
14.P2cx2d    00:25:00  01:45:00
15.R2hx2d    00:25:00  01:45:00
16.G4a-3b    00:25:00  01:45:00
17.R2d-2h    00:32:00  01:45:00
18.P*2c      00:32:00  01:45:00
19.S3i-4h    01:09:00  01:45:00
20.K5a-4a    01:09:00  01:54:00
21.G6i-7h    01:28:00  01:54:00
22.S5c-4d    01:28:00  02:24:00
23.S4h-5g    01:34:00  02:24:00
24.P5d-5e?   01:34:00  02:34:00

Diagram 2

Too early. Habu should have played 24.R5b here. He was worried 
about 25.S4f, but then the simple 26.P5e Px5e Sx5e Sx5e Bx5e Bx5e 
Rx5e P*5h P*5g is OK for white after the long but forced B*6f Px5h+ 
Gx5h R5a Bx1a+ P*5g L*5e Rx5e +Bx5e B*3i P*5c L*5a R1h Px5h+ Kx5h 
S*2g. Habu thought that 24.P5e would lead to a similar development, 
but he overlooked that Moriuchi has a different defense.

25.P5fx5e    01:38:00  02:34:00
26.S4dx5e    01:38:00  02:34:00
27.P*5f      01:38:00  02:34:00
28.S5e-4d    01:38:00  02:34:00
29.G4i-5h    02:06:00  02:34:00
30.R8b-5b    02:06:00  02:36:00
31.P6g-6f    02:22:00  02:36:00
32.P*5e      02:22:00  02:44:00
33.G7h-6g    02:31:00  02:44:00

Diagram 3

Black is now in time to defend the center and white gets stuck for 
moves.

34.P5ex5f    02:31:00  03:05:00
35.S5gx5f    02:32:00  03:05:00
36.P*5e      02:32:00  03:22:00
37.S5f-6e    02:32:00  03:22:00
38.S3a-4b    02:32:00  03:22:00
39.K5i-6i    02:50:00  03:22:00
40.S4b-3c    02:50:00  03:34:00
41.P4g-4f    03:30:00  03:34:00
42.B2b-3a    03:30:00  03:43:00
43.P7f-7e    03:30:00  03:43:00
44.B3ax7e    03:30:00  04:07:00

The sealed move and of course no surprise. Here Habu still thought 
he was doing alright, but after the game he admitted that his position 
might be suspect here.

45.R2h-4h!   04:12:00  04:07:00

Aiming for the silver on 4d and taking Habu by complete surprise. 
Moriuchi's judgment has been perfect.

46.B7e-4b    04:12:00  04:23:00
47.P*5d!     04:19:00  04:23:00

Diagram 4

Suddenly white is in trouble. The silver on 4d is getting trouble 
breathing.

48.G6a-6b?   04:19:00  04:52:00

Now the game is suddenly over. The only fighting chance was 48.K3a. 
Then after 49.P4e S3e G4g, white can try P6d P5c+ Bx5c S5d B4b S6c+ 
R5d and even though black has the better position, white's position 
still has potential for a good attack.

49.P4f-4e    04:38:00  04:52:00
50.S4d-3e    04:38:00  04:52:00
51.G5h-4g    04:39:00  04:52:00
52.P6c-6d    04:39:00  05:48:00
53.S6e-7f    04:39:00  05:48:00
54.G6b-6c    04:39:00  05:48:00

Or 54.P1d P*2e followed by P3f.

55.R4h-2h    04:48:00  05:48:00
56.G6cx5d    04:48:00  06:26:00
57.P3g-3f    04:49:00  06:26:00
58.S3e-2d    04:49:00  06:26:00
59.P*2e      04:49:00  06:26:00
60.S2d-1e    04:49:00  06:26:00
61.B7g-5i    05:22:00  06:26:00
62.G5dx4e    05:22:00  06:50:00
63.B5ix1e    05:22:00  06:50:00
64.K4a-3a    05:22:00  06:50:00
65.S8h-7g    05:31:00  06:50:00
Resigns      05:31:00  07:00:00

Final Diagram

Black is a full silver up and white has no compensation. With the 
wall silver on 8h coming into play, Habu lost the will to fight an 
inescapable faith and resigned. It is hard to conclude anything from 
this game. Throughout his career Habu regularly has had games where 
he completely misjudged something and lost quickly. It does not seem 
to have anything to do with form. Still, Moriuchi will be happy to 
take the point and put some real pressure on Habu in the second game.