62nd Meijin Match Game 5
[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Meijin"]
[White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger"]
[Event "62nd Meijin-sen, Game 5"]
[Date "June 3rd and 4th 2004"]
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:02:00
3.P2g-2f 00:04:00 00:02:00
4.G4a-3b 00:04:00 00:03:00
5.G6i-7h 00:05:00 00:03:00
6.P8d-8e 00:05:00 00:03:00
7.B8h-7g 00:06:00 00:03:00
8.P3c-3d 00:06:00 00:03:00
9.S7i-8h 00:07:00 00:03:00
10.B2bx7g+ 00:07:00 00:03:00
11.S8hx7g 00:07:00 00:03:00
12.S3a-4b 00:07:00 00:04:00
13.S3i-3h 00:09:00 00:04:00
14.S7a-7b 00:09:00 00:27:00
15.P9g-9f 00:22:00 00:27:00
16.P9c-9d 00:22:00 00:28:00
17.P4g-4f 00:24:00 00:28:00
18.P6c-6d 00:24:00 00:28:00
19.S3h-4g 00:27:00 00:28:00
20.S7b-6c 00:27:00 00:28:00
21.K5i-6h 00:28:00 00:28:00
22.G6a-5b 00:28:00 00:31:00
23.G4i-5h 00:31:00 00:31:00
24.P1c-1d 00:31:00 00:32:00
25.P1g-1f 00:34:00 00:32:00
26.K5a-4a 00:34:00 00:33:00
27.P3g-3f 00:52:00 00:33:00
28.P4c-4d 00:52:00 00:39:00
29.S4g-5f 01:06:00 00:39:00
30.S6c-5d 01:06:00 00:40:00
31.K6h-7i 01:06:00 00:40:00
32.P7c-7d 01:06:00 00:47:00
33.P6g-6f 01:06:00 00:47:00
34.K4a-3a 01:06:00 01:00:00
35.N2i-3g 01:11:00 01:00:00
36.N8a-7c 01:11:00 01:04:00
37.P2f-2e 01:28:00 01:04:00
38.S4b-3c 01:28:00 01:12:00
No modern opening like the R8e Yokofudori or the Kakugawari
with one tempo loss this time. Instead we have a normal
Kakugawari Reclining Silver opening, which is probably the
most deeply analyzed opening strategy in shogi. There is
no conclusion yet, but black is winning the majority of
games with this position and among professionals there is
the opinion that soon a clear winning strategy for black will
be found and this opening will completely disappear.
39.P4f-4e 01:58:00 01:12:00
40.P4dx4e 01:58:00 01:18:00
41.P3f-3e 01:58:00 01:18:00
42.S3c-4d 01:58:00 01:23:00
43.P2e-2d 01:59:00 01:23:00
44.P2cx2d 01:59:00 01:23:00
45.R2hx2d 01:59:00 01:23:00
46.P*2c 01:59:00 01:48:00
47.R2d-2h 01:59:00 01:48:00
48.P6d-6e 01:59:00 01:51:00
49.P6fx6e 02:13:00 01:51:00
50.P8e-8f 02:13:00 01:52:00
51.P8gx8f 02:18:00 01:52:00
52.P7d-7e 02:18:00 02:01:00
53.P*2d 02:43:00 02:01:00
54.P2cx2d 02:43:00 02:48:00
55.P*2c 02:47:00 02:48:00
The end of the first day, but still in known territory. Both
players also played this position before, in the 6th game of
the Osho match. Moriuchi had black then and won the game to take
the Osho title from Habu. Who would be the first to change the
moves from that game?
56.G3bx2c 02:47:00 04:07:00
57.P*2e 02:55:00 04:07:00
58.P2dx2e 02:55:00 04:35:00
59.P7fx7e 03:04:00 04:35:00
60.P*8h 03:04:00 04:35:00
61.S7gx8h 03:31:00 04:35:00
62.S5dx6e 03:31:00 04:42:00
63.P7e-7d 06:04:00 04:42:00
Played after two and a half hours, indicating that Habu was
considering different options here. For example, 63.P*2d Gx2d
P*2b looks good as well. If then Kx2b, P7d followed by B*6f is
stronger than in the game.
64.S6ex7d 06:04:00 04:46:00
65.P*2b 06:05:00 04:46:00
It is Habu who decides to take a different path from the Osho game.
There it followed 65.B*6f G4c Sx4e Sx4e P*4d G4b P*2d Gx2d Nx4e
B*3g R3h B4f+ N3c+. It might seem strange that Habu is the one to
play a new move, since black won that Osho game, but as Moriuchi
pointed out: "In the endgame, white was better".
66.G2cx2b!? 06:05:00 06:14:00
A surprise. Most professionals in the press room expected 66.N3c.
67.B*6f 06:07:00 06:14:00
68.S4dx3e 06:07:00 07:14:00
69.P*2c 07:28:00 07:14:00
70.G2b-1b 07:28:00 07:15:00
Difficult to play, because the white position looks in total disarray.
Moriuchi is aiming for a favorite patters: completely destroy the
opponent's attack and then win easily. Black has to play very carefully
to keep his attack going.
71.R2hx2e 07:28:00 07:15:00
72.P*2d 07:28:00 07:19:00
73.R2e-2i 07:28:00 07:19:00
74.R8b-6b 07:28:00 07:36:00
75.G5h-6g 07:46:00 07:36:00
76.B*3h 07:46:00 08:01:00
77.R2i-2h 08:01:00 08:01:00
78.B3h-4i+ 08:01:00 08:01:00
79.N3gx4e 08:01:00 08:01:00
80.+B4i-3i 08:01:00 08:03:00
81.R2h-6h 08:02:00 08:03:00
82.K3a-3b 08:02:00 08:09:00
83.P*7e 08:15:00 08:09:00
84.S7d-6c 08:15:00 08:17:00
85.P*6d 08:22:00 08:17:00
86.S6cx6d 08:22:00 08:20:00
87.P7e-7d 08:22:00 08:20:00
88.N7c-6e 08:22:00 08:20:00
89.P7d-7c+ 08:23:00 08:20:00
90.S6dx7c 08:23:00 08:25:00
91.S5fx6e 08:23:00 08:25:00
92.R6bx6e 08:23:00 08:26:00
93.G6g-5f 08:23:00 08:26:00
94.R6e-6b 08:23:00 08:43:00
95.N*3c 08:31:00 08:43:00
96.P*4d 08:31:00 08:52:00
97.N3cx2a+ 08:32:00 08:52:00
98.G1bx2c 08:32:00 08:52:00
99.N*6e 08:38:00 08:52:00
100.K3bx2a 08:38:00 08:52:00
101.N6ex7c+ 08:42:00 08:52:00
102.R6b-6a 08:42:00 08:52:00
103.S8h-8g 08:45:00 08:52:00
104.+B3i-4i 08:45:00 08:53:00
105.S*7b 08:53:00 08:53:00
Aiming for 106.R6d +N6c Gx6c Sx6c+ Rx6c G*3c.
106.P*6g 08:53:00 08:55:00
107.R6hx6g 08:53:00 08:55:00
108.N*7e? 08:53:00 08:56:00
After this move, the microphones recorded a big sigh coming from
Habu. Habu is not a player to pay much attention to concealing his
emotions, but this sigh of relief is a rarity. Here he feared
108.+Bx6g Sx6a= R*5i P*6i +B5h Sx5b+ N*7f which seems winning for white.
Unfortunately for Moriuchi, 108.N*7e looks like a good move. White wants
to exchange rooks and at the same time make the silver on 7b an idle piece.
This is indeed what happens, but with the rook in hand, the black attack
is stronger than the white attack.
109.B6fx7e 08:55:00 08:56:00
110.R6ax6g+ 08:55:00 08:56:00
111.G7hx6g 08:55:00 08:56:00
112.K2a-2b 08:55:00 08:56:00
113.R*6a 08:55:00 08:56:00
114.P*6c 08:55:00 08:57:00
115.P*6h 08:56:00 08:57:00
116.P*7f 08:56:00 08:59:00
117.N4ex5c+? 08:58:00 08:59:00
A mistake that could have cost Habu the Meijin title. Correct was 117.+N6c,
which wins handsomely for black.
118.R*5i 08:58:00 08:59:00
119.K7i-8h 08:58:00 08:59:00
120.S*6d! 08:58:00 08:59:00
Perfect defense. With the bishop in hand, things like B*7i K9h +Bx6g suddenly
becomes possible.
121.B7ex6d 08:59:00 08:59:00
122.P6cx6d 08:59:00 08:59:00
123.S8gx7f 08:59:00 08:59:00
124.G5bx5c 08:59:00 08:59:00
125.+N7c-6c 08:59:00 08:59:00
126.P*8g 08:59:00 08:59:00
127.S7fx8g 08:59:00 08:59:00
128.G5cx6c? 08:59:00 08:59:00
The mistake that costs the game. Unfortunately, the correct way to play
is not given.
129.S*3a 08:59:00 08:59:00
130.K2b-1c 08:59:00 08:59:00
131.R6ax6c+ 08:59:00 08:59:00
This is a mating threat. For example, 132.N*7e +Rx2c Kx2c G*2b K3c G*3b
K4c N*5e etc.
132.N*5a! 08:59:00 08:59:00
A great last try. This move defends against the mate at an unlikely
place: the square 6c (black needs S6c= the make the mate work).
133.+R6c-5c 08:59:00 08:59:00
134.P*5b 08:59:00 08:59:00
135.+R5c-4b! 08:59:00 08:59:00
Winning, but one needs to be Habu to make sure of that in byoyomi.
In general, it is a hard move to play, because it leaves white pieces
that can potentially block an entering king attempt. When played lightly,
it is even possible that N*7e suddenly becomes a mating threat.
136.N*7e 08:59:00 08:59:00
137.G*3c 08:59:00 08:59:00
Habu has calculated that it is not.
138.N7ex8g+ 08:59:00 08:59:00
139.K8hx8g 08:59:00 08:59:00
140.R5ix8i+ 08:59:00 08:59:00
141.K8g-7f 08:59:00 08:59:00
142.+B4ix6g 08:59:00 08:59:00
143.P6hx6g 08:59:00 08:59:00
144.+R8i-7h 08:59:00 08:59:00
145.P*7g 08:59:00 08:59:00
Resigns 08:59:00 08:59:00
White has three possible checks here: 146.N*8d, 146.B*8g and 146.P*7e.
However, in all cases black plays 147.K8f and there are a few more
checks, but definitely no mate. On the other hand, the white king
can not be defended. A very interesting game after a slow start,
with Habu in control for much of the game, but in the end lucky to
keep his Meijin title, at least for one more game.