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13th Ryu-O sen, Game 2
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4 December 2000
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Fujii beaten in the endgame
To play through the game in a Java viewer, click
here.
Black: Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger
White: Fujii Takeshi, Ryu-O
13th Ryu-O sen, Game 2, November 1st and 2nd 2000
Notes by Reijer Grimbergen
1. P7g-7f
This is a big game for Habu, as he suffered a total defeat in the
first game. Another disaster like that, especially with black, would make it very difficult to take the Ryu-O title from Fujii. Of course, Habu knows how to deal with pressure like that.
2.P3c-3d
3.P2g-2f
4.P4c-4d
5.S3i-4h
6.S3a-3b
7.P5g-5f
8.R8b-4b
9.K5i-6h
10.P9c-9d
11.K6h-7h
12.S3b-4c
13.G4i-5h
14.S7a-7b
15.P9g-9f
16.K5a-6b
17.S4h-5g
18.P6c-6d
19.P2f-2e
20.B2b-3c
21.P3g-3f
22.K6b-7a
23.S5g-4f
Again, Habu avoids the Fujii System and plays a quick attack. It is unclear if he actually thinks that this is a good strategy against Fujii's Shikenbisha or that there are only psychological reasons. Habu has had some good results with the quick attack against Fujii, even though he did not get any advantage from the opening in those games.
24.R4b-3b
25.P3f-3e
26.K7a-8b
27.P1g-1f
Habu judges that an all-out attack in this position is not good
enough. The white position is a little bit different from the most common opening theory as the white gold is still on 4a. This might actually help white, as it is more difficult for black to later drop a rook in white's camp. Even with the gold on 5b instead of 4a, opening theory says that black's attack is not strong enough and that positional play like Habu shows in the game is best.
28.P1c-1d
29.S7i-6h
30.L1a-1c!
The sealed move and a sign that Fujii is confident about his position. He does not want to wait for Habu, but is aiming at
his own attack with R1b followed by P1e.
31.P3ex3d
32.S4cx3d
33.P*3e
34.S3d-4c
35.S4f-3g
36.G4a-5b
Fujii waits until the final moment before settling the shape with
this gold move. Up until this point, it could still go to 5b, 4b
or 3b.
37.S3g-3f
38.R3b-1b
39.P4g-4f
40.P1d-1e
41.P2e-2d?!
This might not have been the best move. Things now get very wild,
but these complications should have ended in white's favour. The
alternative is 41.Px1e Lx1e P*1h R1d, but Habu thought this was
too passive. It might be that black is in trouble here.
42.P2cx2d
43.P4f-4e
44.P1ex1f
45.P4ex4d
46.P1f-1g+
47.P4dx4c+
Both players ignore the moves of the opponent and suddenly everywhere pieces are hanging. Habu considered the more quiet 47.R4h here, but after 48.S3b P3d B1a P3c+ Bx3c S3e P*4b there is no way to proceed for black.
48.B3cx8h+
49.K7hx8h
50.+P1gx2h
51.B*3d
52.R*4i
53.+P4cx5b
54.R1bx5b?
This is a mistake that gives Habu the advantage. Both players overlooked that after 54.+Rx6i 55.G*7i white can continue strongly with 56.+Rx7i! Sx7i Rx5b P*4d P*4b R*4a G*5a and the difference in king safety is too big.
55.G5h-5i
56.R4ix2i+
57.B3dx5b+
58.G6ax5b
59.R*3b!
This looks like a simple move, but it is quite subtle. The obvious drop is 59.R*4a, but after G*5a Rx2a+ P*4a the black dragon is out of play. With 59.R*3b Habu more or less forces a pawn drop on 4b, after which the black dragon is much more active.
60.P*4b
61.R3b-3a+
62.N*7a
63.S*6a
64.S7bx6a
65.+R3ax6a
66.B*6c
67.S*6b?
Very hard to see, but the awful looking 67.S*4a was the best move
here. After 68.S*5a S4g +Rx1i Sx5b= Sx5b +Rx2a Habu would have
kept his advantage.
68.B*4d
69.P5f-5e?!
Better was 69.N7g.
70.G5bx6b
71.+R6ax6b
72.S*7b
73.G*6a
74.P5c-5d
A perfect defence. We now enter a stage of the game where nobody knew what was happening. The side who just played a move looks to be better and Shukan Shogi has no comments for this complicated attack and defence sequence. All moves look reasonable, but it seems likely that a number of improvements for both players can be found.
75.+R6bx4b
76.S*5c
77.+R4b-3a
78.B4dx5e
79.N8i-7g
80.P*4a
81.G6ax7a
82.K8bx7a
83.+R3ax2a
84.+R2ix1i
85.N*7e
86.B6c-7d
87.G*4c
88.G*4b
89.G4cx4b
90.S5cx4b
91.N*6f
92.B7d-5b
93.P*5c
94.S4bx5c
95.G*5a!
Even after seeing it so often, it is still amazing to see what moves Habu can come up with to make things difficult for his opponents. This gold drop looks very bad, but it is the only way for black to make progress.
96.B5b-1f?
It seems that Fujii should have strengthened his position here with 96.G*6b. Hard to see indeed, and that is what makes Habu so special. He needs another magical touch, though...
97.+R2ax4a
98.G*4b
99.+R4a-3a
100.K7a-8b
And the end of black's attack, Fujii thought...
101.P3e-3d!
Incredible move. Surely this must be too far from the white king.
It may be that Habu picked this move because he thought it was the only way he would have a chance of winning, but still his judgement is perfect. This tokin attack comes just in time, as Fujii's attack is one move too slow.
102.B5e-3g+
Fujii uses his last seven minutes to find a quick attack, but he
is unable to find one. For example, 102.L*7d P*4c Lx7e P4b+ Lx7f G5b is also losing for white.
103.P3d-3c+
104.L*5e
105.+P3cx4b
106.L5ex5i+
107.G5a-5b
108.+L5ix6i
109.G*7a
110.G*6a
111.G5bx6a
112.S7bx6a
113.G7ax8a
114.K8bx8a
115.N7ex8c+
After the game, Habu said that only here he felt sure that he would win.
116.G*8b
117.+N8cx8b
118.K8ax8b
119.G*8d
120.P6d-6e
121.G*8c
122.K8b-7a
123.+R3ax6a
124.K7ax6a
125.S*7b
Resigns. Time: 07:59:00 07:59:00
And a simple mate after 126.K6b N*7d Px7d Nx7d. Again a game where Fujii dominated the opening and early middle game, but that was decided by Habu's awesome endgame skills. The theme of this match might be if Fujii can get a big enough advantage after the opening to win the game or not. A close endgame fight seems to be in Habu's favour. In game 3 it will be again very interesting to see how Habu will play in the early stages of the game. The Fujii System still looks rock solid.
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