69th Meijin Match Game 6

[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Meijin"]
[White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger"]
[Event "69th Meijin-sen, Game 6"]
[Date "June 7th and 8th 2011"]
1.P7g-7f     00:00:00  00:00:00
2.P8c-8d     00:00:00  00:00:00
3.S7i-6h     00:02:00  00:00:00
4.P3c-3d     00:02:00  00:00:00
5.P6g-6f     00:03:00  00:00:00
6.S7a-6b     00:03:00  00:00:00
7.P5g-5f     00:10:00  00:00:00
8.P5c-5d     00:10:00  00:01:00
9.S3i-4h     00:13:00  00:01:00
10.S3a-4b    00:13:00  00:02:00
11.G4i-5h    00:16:00  00:02:00
12.G4a-3b    00:16:00  00:03:00
13.G6i-7h    00:19:00  00:03:00
14.K5a-4a    00:19:00  00:10:00
15.K5i-6i    00:21:00  00:10:00
16.G6a-5b    00:21:00  00:11:00
17.S6h-7g    00:24:00  00:11:00
18.S4b-3c    00:24:00  00:13:00
19.B8h-7i    00:26:00  00:13:00
20.B2b-3a    00:26:00  00:13:00
21.P3g-3f    00:38:00  00:13:00
22.P4c-4d    00:38:00  00:13:00
23.G5h-6g    00:48:00  00:13:00
24.P7c-7d    00:48:00  00:13:00
25.S4h-3g    00:59:00  00:13:00
26.B3a-6d    00:59:00  00:14:00
27.B7i-6h    01:08:00  00:14:00
28.G5b-4c    01:08:00  00:14:00
29.K6i-7i    01:09:00  00:14:00
30.K4a-3a    01:09:00  00:15:00
31.K7i-8h    01:10:00  00:15:00
32.K3a-2b    01:10:00  00:16:00
33.S3g-4f    01:14:00  00:16:00
34.S6b-5c    01:14:00  00:16:00
35.N2i-3g    01:15:00  00:16:00
36.P9c-9d    01:15:00  00:16:00
37.P1g-1f    01:18:00  00:16:00
38.P1c-1d    01:18:00  00:16:00
39.P2g-2f    01:19:00  00:16:00
40.S3c-2d    01:19:00  00:21:00
41.R2h-3h    01:20:00  00:21:00
42.B6d-7c    01:20:00  00:23:00
43.L1i-1h    01:24:00  00:23:00
44.P8d-8e    01:24:00  00:24:00
45.L9i-9h    01:54:00  00:24:00
46.S5c-4b    01:54:00  00:24:00
47.K8h-9i    01:56:00  00:24:00
48.B7c-6d    01:56:00  00:24:00
49.P6f-6e    02:45:00  00:24:00
50.B6d-7c    02:45:00  00:26:00
51.N3g-2e    02:45:00  00:26:00
52.N2a-3c    02:45:00  00:28:00
53.P1f-1e    02:49:00  00:28:00
54.P1dx1e    02:49:00  00:29:00
55.P3f-3e    02:50:00  00:29:00
56.P3dx3e    02:50:00  00:29:00
57.P5f-5e    02:51:00  00:29:00
58.P5dx5e    02:51:00  00:30:00
59.S4fx3e    02:51:00  00:30:00
60.S2dx3e    02:51:00  00:30:00
61.B6hx3e    02:51:00  00:30:00
62.P*3d      02:51:00  00:30:00
63.B3e-7i    02:51:00  00:30:00
64.N3cx2e    02:51:00  00:30:00
65.P2fx2e    02:52:00  00:30:00

Diagram 1

66.P5e-5f    02:52:00  00:30:00

This sixth game of the Meijin match will decide whether Moriuchi will become Meijin 
again or if Habu can take this match to the final game. Despite its importance, both
 layers play at a blistering speed, especially for a game that is supposed to be 
played over two days. It is still early in the afternoon of the first day and already 
66 moves have been played. Even more interesting is that even though the move order 
has been slightly different, the position here is exactly the same as game 4. There 
Moriuchi played 66.N*3e and after 67.P*1d Nx4g+ R3f S*3e R6f B8d Moriuchi lost the 
game but most people believed that his plan of chasing the rook and then moving out 
the bishop was very good. Despite this, Moriuchi is the one who changes the moves with 
66.P5f. His explanation: "In game 4 I had a hard time deciding between N*3e and P5f, 
so I decided to play P5f if I would have been led to the same position again."

67.L1hx1e    04:15:00  00:30:00
68.L1ax1e    04:15:00  00:31:00
69.N*1d      04:15:00  00:31:00
70.K2b-1b    04:15:00  00:32:00
71.P*1c      04:22:00  00:32:00
72.K1b-2a    04:22:00  00:32:00
73.P2e-2d    04:26:00  00:32:00
74.P2cx2d    04:26:00  01:05:00
75.B7ix2d    04:28:00  01:05:00

Diagram 2

76.S*2c      04:28:00  03:22:00

The sealed move and the first time Moriuchi took a long hard think in this game. He 
took more than two hours to seal this move. In the press room 76.P8f was analyzed. 
If black has to take this pawn, then the hole on 8g becomes a target for all the 
pieces that white has in hand, but it looks like black can ignore the pawn push with 
77.Bx1e. For example, 78.Px8g+ Gx8g and because Rx8g+ fails to L*8h, white has to 
try something like N*9e, but then P*8c Nx8g= K8h Rx8c P*2c is good for black. The 
black king looks to be in a dangerous spot, but with the opponent knight on its head, 
it is actually quite hard to get to.

77.P1c-1b+   04:33:00  03:22:00
78.S2cx1b    04:33:00  03:23:00

This is forced because 78.Kx1b is too dangerous after 79.S*1c K2a Bx4b+ Rx4b S*2b 
Gx2b Nx2b+ Rx2b Sx2b+ Kx2b R*4a and there is no good defense.

79.B2dx1e    04:38:00  03:23:00
80.P8e-8f    04:38:00  04:36:00
81.P8gx8f    05:16:00  04:36:00
82.P*1c      05:16:00  04:42:00
83.L*2f      06:28:00  04:42:00
84.P*2d      06:28:00  05:28:00
85.P*2c      06:39:00  05:28:00
86.S1bx2c    06:39:00  05:42:00
87.L2fx2d    06:39:00  05:42:00
88.P1cx1d    06:39:00  05:43:00
89.L2dx2c+   06:39:00  05:43:00
90.P1dx1e    06:39:00  05:45:00
91.S*1b      06:41:00  05:45:00
92.K2a-3a    06:41:00  05:45:00

Diagram 3

93.P6e-6d!   06:41:00  05:45:00

An interesting plan to bring the defending gold into an attacking position.

94.B7cx6d    06:41:00  05:50:00
95.G6gx5f    06:41:00  05:50:00
96.N*9e      06:41:00  06:19:00
97.G5f-6e!   07:04:00  06:19:00

Habu is very consistent here and ignores the double knight attack. He could have 
turned to defense here with 97.P9f, but after 98.N*8g K8h B*9i K9g N7c P7e the 
position is not so clear.

98.N*8g      07:04:00  07:00:00
99.G7hx8g    07:04:00  07:00:00
100.N9ex8g=  07:04:00  07:00:00
101.K9i-8h   07:04:00  07:00:00

Diagram 4

102.G*6g     07:04:00  07:09:00

The start of some fireworks. This is mating threat after B*9i Kx8g Bx7g+ Nx7g Rx8f etc.

103.G6ex6d!  07:17:00  07:09:00

This defends against the mating threat and creates a mating threat after +Lx3b followed 
by B*1d.

104.G3bx2c!  07:17:00  07:11:00

And again defending against the mating threat with a mating threat because white wins 
after 105.Sx2c+ B*9i K8g Bx7g+ Nx7g Rx8f etc.

105.S*6h     07:33:00  07:11:00

Habu is the first player to be forced to play a defense only move, which usually is 
not a good sign...

106.B*9i     07:33:00  07:55:00
107.K8hx8g   07:34:00  07:55:00
108.B9ix7g+  07:34:00  07:55:00
109.S6hx7g   07:34:00  07:55:00
110.L*8c?    07:34:00  07:55:00

Diagram 5

Moriuchi was so close to the Meijin title here. If only he would have dropped the 
lance on 8d instead of 8c. The reason why this is important will become clear soon.

111.N*7h!    08:03:00  07:55:00

Strong defensive move. The devilish move 111.N*9e was an alternative here (112.Px9e 
is answered by Sx2c+).

112.S*6i     08:03:00  08:23:00
113.G6dx7d   08:05:00  08:23:00
114.G2c-2b   08:05:00  08:33:00

Black no longer has a mating threat, so is forced back to defense.

115.G7dx8c   08:13:00  08:33:00
116.R8bx8c   08:13:00  08:34:00
117.B*5f     08:13:00  08:34:00

This bishop fork in the difference between dropping a silver on 8c and 8d. If the gold 
on 7d takes the lance on 8d instead of 8c, this bishop drop on 5f is no longer possible. 
For example, 115.Gx8d Gx1b L*8c R5b seems bad for black.

118.S6ix7h=  08:13:00  08:47:00
119.R3hx7h   08:13:00  08:47:00
120.N*9e     08:13:00  08:47:00
121.K8g-9f   08:13:00  08:47:00
122.R8c-8b   08:13:00  08:47:00
123.B5fx6g   08:21:00  08:47:00
124.G2bx1b   08:21:00  08:47:00
125.L*8h     08:21:00  08:47:00
126.P*2d     08:21:00  08:51:00
127.P*1c     08:24:00  08:51:00
128.G1bx1c   08:24:00  08:51:00
129.P*1d     08:24:00  08:51:00
130.G1c-2c   08:24:00  08:51:00
131.P*3b     08:32:00  08:51:00
132.K3ax3b   08:32:00  08:51:00
133.S*1b     08:32:00  08:51:00
134.G2c-2b   08:32:00  08:52:00
135.G*2c     08:33:00  08:52:00
136.G2bx2c   08:33:00  08:52:00
137.S1bx2c+  08:33:00  08:52:00
138.K3bx2c   08:33:00  08:56:00
139.B*4a     08:33:00  08:56:00
Resigns      08:33:00  08:56:00

Final Diagram

Now 140.L*3b is answered by 141.N*3e Kx1d Bx3b+ K2e L*2h and mate. If the king moves 
back then black can make a hisshi after 141.G*2c. White has no mate, so Moriuchi 
resigned here. Habu has managed to draw the match even at 3-3 after being 3-0 down. 
He now has a chance to become the first player in Meijin history to make a comeback 
after losing the first three game. Still, Moriuchi still has one more chance to take 
the Meijin title from him. An exciting final game awaits.