64th Meijin Match Game 1
[Black "Tanigawa Koji, Challenger"]
[White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Meijin"]
[Event "64th Meijin-sen, Game 1"]
[Date "April 11th and 12th 2006"]
1.P2g-2f 00:01:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:02:00
3.P7g-7f 00:04:00 00:02:00
4.G4a-3b 00:04:00 00:03:00
5.G6i-7h 00:17:00 00:03:00
6.P8c-8d 00:17:00 00:03:00
7.P2f-2e 00:19:00 00:03:00
8.B2bx8h+ 00:19:00 00:04:00
The popular Kakugawari with tempo loss. This is the first time that Moriuchi
and Tanigawa have played this opening against each other but that is not a
real surprise. The last time they played each other was more than a year ago,
before this opening suddenly became popular. Of course, both players have
played this opening in important games. Moriuchi played it in the Kio match
and Tanigawa played it in the Meijin play-off game. Before the start of the
Meijin match, everyone expected to see this opening at least once.
9.S7ix8h 00:19:00 00:04:00
10.S3a-2b 00:19:00 00:04:00
11.S3i-3h 00:28:00 00:04:00
12.S2b-3c 00:28:00 00:05:00
13.P1g-1f 00:59:00 00:05:00
14.P1c-1d 00:59:00 00:10:00
15.P3g-3f 01:18:00 00:10:00
16.S7a-6b 01:18:00 00:14:00
17.S3h-3g 01:28:00 00:14:00
18.P6c-6d 01:28:00 00:16:00
19.S3g-4f 01:46:00 00:16:00
20.S6b-6c 01:46:00 00:17:00
21.P3f-3e 02:04:00 00:17:00
This early attack is being played a lot these days, most recently in the Ryu-O
qualification game between Moriuchi and Habu played 4 days before this game.
The position was not identical, with Moriuchi and Habu pushing the pawns on the
9th file, but the idea is the same: attack early to take advantage of the extra
move that black has. Moriuchi won the game against Habu with black, so it would
be interesting to see how he would play this position from the other side.
22.P3dx3e 02:04:00 00:23:00
23.S4fx3e 02:10:00 00:23:00
24.S6c-5d 02:10:00 00:26:00
25.S8h-7g 02:29:00 00:26:00
26.P8d-8e 02:29:00 00:54:00
27.P7f-7e 03:27:00 00:54:00
28.P6d-6e 03:27:00 02:29:00
In the morning this game proceeded at a high pace, but in the last couple of
moves the game has slowed down considerably. It seems that Moriuchi was not
really sure how to develop his pieces here.
29.P7e-7d 04:11:00 02:29:00
It is unclear if Tanigawa was aware of Moriuchi's problems or if he just played
according his famous attacking style. This is a psychologically well-timed pawn
push. White has two possible replies: defending with 30.Px7d or counter-attacking
with 31.B*6d. This is not a single move decision, but will decide if white will
try to kill the black attack or win in a mutual attack. Tanigawa played this
move 35 minutes before the designated time to seal the move. Although this
doesn't mean that the move has to be sealed at that time, it is not easy to
make a difficult decision when everyone is waiting for you to seal the move.
30.P7cx7d 04:11:00 03:21:00
In the end, Moriuchi seals the move 17 minutes after the designated time.
30.Px7d was a surprise for most followers and for Tanigawa. Moriuchi also
would have preferred to play 30.B*6d, but there was something he didn't like
about it even though after the game he didn't give any details. Tanigawa had
expected 30.B*6d B*4f S*5e Bx5e Bx5e S*4f B6d S*5e which leads to a violent
position.
31.B*6d 04:15:00 03:21:00
32.B*7c 04:15:00 03:22:00
33.B6dx7c+ 04:18:00 03:22:00
34.N8ax7c 04:18:00 03:22:00
35.B*4f 04:19:00 03:22:00
36.K5a-6b 04:19:00 04:02:00
37.P*7e 04:46:00 04:02:00
38.R8b-8d 04:46:00 04:06:00
39.P2e-2d 05:01:00 04:06:00
40.P2cx2d 05:01:00 04:07:00
41.S3ex2d 05:01:00 04:07:00
42.S3c-3d 05:01:00 04:15:00
43.S2d-3e 05:10:00 04:15:00
44.P*2g 05:10:00 04:19:00
45.R2hx2g 05:11:00 04:19:00
46.P*2f 05:11:00 04:19:00
47.R2gx2f 05:11:00 04:19:00
48.P*2e 05:11:00 04:19:00
49.R2f-2h 05:11:00 04:19:00
50.S3dx3e 05:11:00 04:27:00
51.B4fx3e 05:12:00 04:27:00
52.P7dx7e 05:12:00 04:31:00
53.B3e-4f 05:42:00 04:31:00
54.G6a-7b 05:42:00 05:08:00
55.S*6d 06:40:00 05:08:00
56.S5d-6c! 06:40:00 06:14:00
Very strong and overlooked by almost everyone including Tanigawa. Up until now,
Tanigawa seemed to be attacking strongly and in control of this game, but this
move shows that things are still very much unclear. Moriuchi felt that 56.R7d
P*7f Px7e P*7e would be losing for white. The professionals in the press room
agreed and had started to analyze S4e instead when 56.S6c was played. 56.S6c
is not really a strange move. It improves the sideways working of the rook and
threatening to exchange the attacking silver is also not a bad idea. Still,
Tanigawa was surprised and rushed his next move.
57.R2hx2e? 07:15:00 06:14:00
An important mistake. At first glance, black seems to win a pawn and leave
white without pawns in hand after the forced 58.P*2c. However, white now gets
the chance to set up a strong counter-attack. Tanigawa admitted after the game
that he regretted this move very much: "This was not the kind of position to be
happy with a pawn". Correct was 57.R3h. For example, 58.P*3g Rx3g B*2f K6i Bx3g+
Sx6c+ Gx6c Nx3g and black has still many ways to attack.
58.P*2c 07:15:00 06:23:00
59.S6dx7e 07:22:00 06:23:00
60.R8d-3d 07:22:00 07:00:00
61.R2e-2h 07:23:00 07:00:00
No choice. White threatens B*2f next.
62.N2a-3c 07:23:00 07:01:00
The combination of the rook on 3d and 3c is very good shape. With 57.R3h black
could have avoided the rook move to 3d.
63.S7g-7f 07:27:00 07:01:00
64.S*4e 07:27:00 07:06:00
65.P*7d 08:09:00 07:06:00
66.S4ex4f 08:09:00 07:21:00
67.P7dx7c+ 08:09:00 07:21:00
68.G7bx7c 08:09:00 07:21:00
69.P*7d 08:09:00 07:21:00
70.S6cx7d 08:09:00 07:24:00
71.P4gx4f 08:09:00 07:24:00
72.S7dx7e 08:09:00 07:32:00
73.S7fx7e 08:09:00 07:32:00
74.P*7d 08:09:00 07:32:00
75.P*3e 08:16:00 07:32:00
76.R3d-5d 08:16:00 07:42:00
77.S*6d 08:22:00 07:42:00
78.B*9e? 08:22:00 07:52:00
Moriuchi also makes a mistake, but with less serious consequences than Tanigawa.
Correct was immediately 80.Px7e.
79.N8i-7g 08:25:00 07:52:00
80.P7dx7e 08:25:00 08:01:00
81.S*5e 08:27:00 08:01:00
82.G7cx6d 08:27:00 08:33:00
83.S5ex5d 08:27:00 08:33:00
84.G6dx5d 08:27:00 08:33:00
85.P*7d 08:30:00 08:33:00
86.S*7b 08:30:00 08:50:00
Here Moriuchi had intended 86.B*5e, but now he saw that after 87.P9f B9ex7g+
Gx7g Bx7g+ B*6h he can't play +Bx9i or +Bx6g because the white king is mated
after B9e! Without 86.B*5e, the bishop drop on 9e is meaningless.
87.P9g-9f 08:30:00 08:50:00
88.B9e-8d 08:30:00 08:50:00
89.N7gx8e 08:30:00 08:50:00
90.S*8b 08:30:00 08:50:00
91.P3e-3d 08:39:00 08:50:00
Tanigawa has no choice but to attack.
92.N3c-4e! 08:39:00 08:50:00
93.P3d-3c+? 08:39:00 08:50:00
According to Fukaura this might have been the final mistake. 93.Px4e seems
bad because of either B*5e or B*4f, but after 93.B*5e R2f Bx1i+ P3c+ Gx3c
R*3a black seems to have better fighting chances than in the game.
94.N4ex5g+ 08:39:00 08:51:00
95.+P3cx3b 08:39:00 08:51:00
96.P7e-7f! 08:39:00 08:54:00
Opening the bishop's diagonal and making an attacking base on 7g decides
the game. Black has no defense.
97.R*4b 08:50:00 08:54:00
98.K6b-6c 08:50:00 08:54:00
99.R4bx7b+ 08:51:00 08:54:00
100.K6cx7b 08:51:00 08:54:00
101.S*7c 08:51:00 08:54:00
102.K7b-8c 08:51:00 08:57:00
103.S7cx8d+ 08:52:00 08:57:00
104.K8cx8d 08:52:00 08:57:00
105.P7d-7c+ 08:52:00 08:57:00
106.B*7g 08:52:00 08:58:00
107.G7hx7g 08:53:00 08:58:00
Now there is a long but not too difficult mate.
108.R*8i 08:53:00 08:58:00
109.N*6i 08:53:00 08:58:00
110.R8ix6i+ 08:53:00 08:58:00
111.K5ix6i 08:53:00 08:58:00
112.S*6h 08:53:00 08:58:00
113.R2hx6h 08:53:00 08:58:00
114.+N5gx6h 08:53:00 08:58:00
115.K6ix6h 08:53:00 08:58:00
116.P7fx7g+ 08:53:00 08:58:00
117.K6h-5i 08:53:00 08:58:00
118.R*5g 08:53:00 08:59:00
119.B*5h 08:53:00 08:59:00
120.S*6h 08:53:00 08:59:00
121.K5i-4h 08:53:00 08:59:00
122.N*5f 08:53:00 08:59:00
123.K4h-3i 08:53:00 08:59:00
124.S*4h 08:53:00 08:59:00
Resigns 08:53:00 08:59:00
125.K3h or 125.K2h is mate after 126.G*2g and 125.Gx4h is mate after
126.Nx4h+ Kx4h Rx5h+ K3g B*5i K3f G*2f K3e G*2d. An important win for
Moriuchi. He is the favorite in this match, but Tanigawa was on a high
after beating Habu in the Meijin play-off. It was very important to put
a dent in Tanigawa's confidence early and winning the first game with
the white pieces is exactly what Moriuchi wanted. Tanigawa already needs
to win with white in the next game to keep this match close.