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58th Meijin-sen, Game 2
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Black: Maruyama Tadahisa, Challenger
White: Sato Yasumitsu, Meijin
58th Meijin-sen, Game 2, April 22nd and 23rd 2000
Notes by Reijer Grimbergen
1.P7g-7f 2.P8c-8d 3.P2g-2f 4.G4a-3b 5.G6i-7h 6.P8d-8e 7.B8h-7g
8.P3c-3d 9.S7i-8h 10.B2bx7g+ 11.S8hx7g
The Kakugawari is no surprise. Maruyama
is a specialist in this opening and Sato has had big trouble with
white against the Kakugawari in the previous two Meijin matches
against Tanigawa.
12.S3a-4b 13.P9g-9f 14.S7a-7b 15.S3i-3h 16.P9c-9d 17.P4g-4f
18.P6c-6d 19.S3h-4g 20.S7b-6c 21.K5i-6h 22.P1c-1d 23.P1g-1f 24.S6c-5d
25.K6h-7i 26.P6d-6e
(A
diagram) This is most often played these days. White does
not allow black the natural development with P6f and at the same
time this moves prepares for a future bishop drop on 6d.
27.S4g-5f 28.G6a-5b 29.K7i-8h 30.K5a-4a 31.S5f-4e
Maruyama took a long time for his last two moves. There are many
variations in this opening where the loss of a tempo is vital and
the extra move K7i-8h can not be spared. Maruyama judged that he
could improve his king position before playing the attack S4e. This
attack is not often seen, but Maruyama has played this before, albeit
in a slightly different position.
32.S5dx4e
(A
diagram) Difficult decision. Sato thought long about 32.S5e,
but did not like the position after 33.Sx3d R8d S4e Sx4f G5h.
33.P4fx4e 34.K4a-3a 35.R2h-4h 36.S4b-3c 37.G4i-3h 38.G5b-4b
39.G3h-4g 40.K3a-2b 41.N2i-1g!
Good move. If black gives white time
to build an anaguma (after L1b next) he will be in trouble.
For example, 41.P3f L1b N3g K1a and white is just in time since
N2e can be answered with S2b.
42.S3c-2d
Now 42.L1b fails to N2e and black gets a strong attack. It is very
hard to see what white can play here, and it is no wonder that Sato
took almost two hours for 42.S2d. The main alternative
he spent the time on was 42.K1b. This is a strange looking move,
but after 43.G5f as in the game, white can play B*5i followed by
Bx3g+.
43.G4g-5f
Not a move to play lightly, as the
gold in front of the pawn is bad shape. However, this game
is an exception to the rule. The gold will play a vital role.
44.N2a-3c?!
(A
diagram) White can not play 44.B*5i, since 45.B*5e defends
the pawn on 3g with check, so white loses the bishop after R5h next.
However, Sato should probably have played 44.S3c here. A difficult
move to play, as the silver just moved away from this square. Still,
44.S3c N2e B*5i R4i Bx3g+ Nx3c+ Nx3c P4d S*4h Px4c+ G4bx4c R7i "is
better than what happened in the game" (Sato).
45.P4e-4d 46.S2d-3e
No choice. 46.Px4d Rx4d P*4c R6d and the rook promotes.
47.P4dx4c+ 48.G4bx4c 49.S*4a!
Great attack. This seriously weakens the white king.
50.P*4d
Painful, but 50.G3b-4b B*6a P*4d
Bx4c+ Gx4c G*3b K1c P*4e is worse as black's attack can not be stopped
(Px4e Gx4e Nx4e Rx4e etc.).
51.S4ax3b+ 52.K2bx3b 53.N1g-2e!
There comes the knight. After the knight exchange, the square 5e
is great for a knight drop.
54.B*5i 55.R4h-4i 56.B5ix3g+ 57.N2ex3c+ 58.K3bx3c 59.N*5e 60.+B3g-3h
61.R4i-6i 62.P9d-9e 63.B*6a
A big surprise for the professionals
in the press room. They analysed 63.G*7b as a quick win for black.
This gold can not be taken: 64.Rx7b Nx4c+ Kx4c B*6a.
64.G4c-4b 65.G*4c 66.K3c-2d 67.G4cx4b 68.S3ex2f
And things are suddenly very tough for black as the white king escapes
up the board, or...
69.N5e-4c+!
Looks slow, but after 71.+Nx4d black's attack is decisive.
70.R8b-6b 71.B6a-5b+ 72.R6bx5b 73.G4bx5b 74.+B3h-4g 75.R6i-4i
76.S*4h 77.R*4f!
The
decider. Maruyama usually plays his moves without making a sound,
but putting this rook down could clearly be heard in the press room.
Very unusual for Maruyama, showing that he is human after all.
The gold on 5f is doing a fine job on a bad square.
78.S4hx4i=
After 78.+Bx4f Gx4f Sx4i= P*2e black wins, showing how vital a single
pawn can be.
79.R4fx2f!
Taking the horse is also winning, but Maruyama takes the shortest
route to victory.
80.S*2e 81.R2f-4f
(A
diagram) Coolly moving the rook back. White has no
defence. Maruyama, back to his modest self, said that only
here he was certain of victory.
82.B*3f 83.R4fx3f 84.S2ex3f 85.G*2f
Resigns
Time: 08:50:00 08:59:00
This threatens mate with 85.S*3c and even if white defends with
85.N*2a then B*4b is winning.
A perfect game by Maruyama,
who must be feeling very confident now. The win in game 1 may
have been a little lucky, this game can go straight into the
collection of his finest performances. Sato was beaten without
making a single mistake. Tough luck, and he now desperately
needs a win in game 3 to have a chance to keep his Meijin title.
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