62nd Meijin Match Game 1
[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Meijin"]
[White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger"]
[Event "62nd Meijin-sen, Game 1"]
[Date "April 13th and 14th 2004"]
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:06:00
3.P2g-2f 00:02:00 00:06:00
4.P5c-5d 00:02:00 00:09:00
This is only the second time that Habu and Moriuchi have
played this position against each other. The first time
was in December 2002 in the Osho league. There Moriuchi
had the black pieces and play continued 5.P2e R5b to end
up in a Gokigen Nakabisha.
5.S3i-4h 00:16:00 00:09:00
In this game, Habu plays the more defensive 5.S4h, which
in general leads to less sharp positions than 5.P2e.
6.B2b-3c 00:16:00 00:22:00
This move was first played by Sato Yasumitsu in March 2002,
in his A class Junisen game against Morishita. The idea behind
this move is to play Mukaibisha without having to close the bishop
diagonal. Moriuchi's play is a textbook example of a successful
implementation of this opening strategy. When the pawn is still on
4c, white has a number of extra attacking possibilities like S4d
followed by P5e and P6e. 6.B3c is considered a very strong move.
Data shows that white has won 17 of the 29 games played with this move.
7.K5i-6h 00:20:00 00:22:00
It looks like black can make a promoted bishop here with 7.Bx3c+ Nx3c
P2e R2b B*5c, but then B*5e is the perfect answer. Because black has
played S4h, it is impossible to defend against the invasion on 9i.
8.R8b-2b 00:20:00 00:26:00
9.K6h-7h 00:23:00 00:26:00
10.S3a-4b 00:23:00 00:27:00
11.P5g-5f 00:31:00 00:27:00
12.K5a-6b 00:31:00 00:27:00
13.S4h-5g 00:33:00 00:27:00
14.K6b-7b 00:33:00 00:48:00
15.P6g-6f 00:52:00 00:48:00
16.K7b-8b 00:52:00 01:14:00
17.G4i-5h 00:57:00 01:14:00
18.S4b-5c 00:57:00 01:14:00
19.G5h-6g 01:05:00 01:14:00
20.P7c-7d! 01:05:00 01:41:00
Well played. It is not normal to play P7d before P6d, as it opens up
the diagonal to the white king. However, in this case there is an
important difference in the move order. Black wants to castle as
quickly as possible, but after 21.B7g, white gets a very strong
attack after 22.R7b followed by P7e Px7e S6d.
21.P2f-2e 01:38:00 01:41:00
This binds the rook to defense of the second file, but the pawn on
2e can become a target for the white attack and the one move delay
in the building of the black castle is also an important plus for
white.
22.P6c-6d 01:38:00 02:17:00
23.B8h-7g 01:42:00 02:17:00
24.G4a-5b 01:42:00 02:18:00
25.K7h-8h 01:54:00 02:18:00
26.G5b-6c 01:54:00 02:19:00
27.S7i-7h 02:18:00 02:19:00
28.L9a-9b 02:18:00 03:20:00
29.P8g-8f 03:54:00 03:20:00
The sealed move. Alternatives are P3f or P9f.
30.K8b-9a 03:54:00 03:22:00
31.S7h-8g 03:54:00 03:22:00
32.S7a-8b 03:54:00 03:22:00
33.G6i-7h 03:54:00 03:22:00
34.G6a-7a 03:54:00 03:23:00
35.P3g-3f 03:59:00 03:23:00
36.S5c-4d 03:59:00 03:40:00
37.P4g-4f 04:24:00 03:40:00
38.R2b-5b 04:24:00 04:39:00
39.P9g-9f? 04:40:00 04:39:00
It is hard to imagine that this is a bad move, but it gives white
the chance to start the attack. Necessary was 39.N3g to be ready
for the counter attack.
40.P5d-5e 04:40:00 04:47:00
41.P5fx5e 04:40:00 04:47:00
42.P6d-6e 04:40:00 04:48:00
43.P6fx6e 05:48:00 04:48:00
A rather submissive move. In the press room the more positive 43.P2d
Px2d N3g was analyzed, but Habu pointed out after the game that Px6f
Sx6f S5e loses by one move after P*5c Rx5c N4e Sx6f. White dictates
the pace in this game.
44.S4dx5e 05:48:00 05:00:00
45.P*5f 05:50:00 05:00:00
46.P*6f 05:50:00 05:00:00
47.S5gx6f 05:51:00 05:00:00
48.S5ex5f 05:51:00 05:02:00
49.P*5e 05:52:00 05:02:00
50.S5fx6g+ 05:52:00 05:12:00
51.G7hx6g 05:52:00 05:12:00
52.P*6d 05:52:00 05:12:00
53.S*5f 06:02:00 05:12:00
54.P6dx6e 06:02:00 06:04:00
55.S6fx6e 06:07:00 06:04:00
The normal 55.S5fx6e fails to 56.G*6d R5h N7c and the pressure in the
center is too much. 55.Sx6e is a desperate attempt to force a
sennichite and Habu almost succeeds with his little piece of magic.
56.G*6d 06:07:00 06:53:00
57.G6g-6f 06:37:00 06:53:00
58.G6dx6e 06:37:00 06:56:00
59.G6fx6e 06:37:00 06:56:00
60.S*6d 06:37:00 06:59:00
61.G*6f 06:38:00 06:59:00
62.S6dx6e 06:38:00 07:02:00
63.S5fx6e 06:38:00 07:02:00
64.G*6d 06:38:00 07:05:00
65.S*5f 06:39:00 07:05:00
66.G6dx6e 06:39:00 07:06:00
67.G6fx6e 06:39:00 07:06:00
68.S*6d 06:39:00 07:06:00
69.G*6f 06:39:00 07:06:00
70.S6dx6e 06:39:00 07:06:00
71.S5fx6e 06:39:00 07:06:00
The commentators and the spectators were already looking forward to a
second game.
72.P*6d! 06:39:00 07:37:00
But Moriuchi wants nothing of it. He has found a hole in the sennichite
sequence.
73.S6e-5f 06:45:00 07:37:00
74.G*6e 06:45:00 07:37:00
75.S*6g 07:14:00 07:37:00
76.G6ex6f 07:14:00 07:41:00
77.S6gx6f 07:14:00 07:41:00
78.G*6e 07:14:00 07:41:00
Here it is. White can force a position with the gold on 5f and the silver
on 6f, which leaves a hole on 6g.
79.G*6g 07:17:00 07:41:00
80.G6ex5f 07:17:00 07:49:00
81.G6gx5f 07:17:00 07:49:00
82.S*4g 07:17:00 07:51:00
83.G*5g 07:39:00 07:51:00
Or 83.G5g P6e Sx6e Rx5e with attack on gold and silver. Black can not take
this rook with Bx5e, because after Bx5e (check) this bishop can be dropped
on 3i next.
84.S4gx5f+ 07:39:00 07:53:00
85.G5gx5f 07:39:00 07:53:00
86.G*6g 07:39:00 07:53:00
Resigns 07:42:00 07:53:00
An unexpected resignation. However, black does not have much to play for
here. If the bishop moves, white breaks through the center and the difference
in king position is too big. If black gives up the bishop after 87.S7h Gx7g
Nx7g B1e, he just loses material while the white attack just keeps on going.
Moriuchi starts his third consecutive match with a win in the opening game.
A bad loss for Habu with the black pieces. He is already under a lot of
pressure in this match.