WATANABE defends the title . (Ryuo)

Shogi News : The 22nd Ryuo sen ; 7 games title match

4:54 P.M. 26 November 2009 , after 93 moves , WATANABE won the game . The score of this match becomes "WATANABE 4 --- 0 MORIUCHI" , and WATANABE defends his title Ryuo .


You can see the original game record on the Net .
http://live3.shogi.or.jp/ryuou/kifu/091125.html
(Flash version , written in Japanese language)
http://live3.shogi.or.jp/ryuou/kifu/091125_j.html
(Java version , written in Japanese language)
http://live3.shogi.or.jp/ryuou/kifu-en/20091125-en.html
(Flash version , written in English )


Sente : WATANABE Akira (Ryuo)
Gote : MORIUCHI Toshiyuki (9 dan)

(diagram 1)

1.P-7f P-3d
2.P-2f G-3b
3.G-7h Bx8h+
4.Sx8h S-4b
5.S-3h S-6b
6.P-4f P-6d
7.S-4g S-6c
8.K-6h K-4a
9.P-1f P-1d
10.S-7g G-5b
11.G-5h P-9d
12.P-9f P-7d
13.P-3f S-5d
14.S-5f K-3a
15.K-7i P-8d
16.N-3g N-7c
17.G-4g P-4d
18.P-2e S-3c
19.P-4e Px4e
20.Nx4e S-4d
21.P*4f P-9e
22.Px9e P-7e
23.Px7e N-8e
(diagram 1)

The game restarted with MORIUCHI's sealed move 23...N-8e attacking the 7g-Silver .

(diagram 2)

24.S-8f B*2b
25.L-9f S4d-5e
26.P-7d P*7g
27.Nx7g Sx5f
28.Gx5f Nx7g+
29.Sx7g N*8e
30.P-7c+ R-8a
31.P-6f S*3g
32.R-1h Sx4e
33.Px4e Nx7g+
34.Gx7g N*8e
35.G-6g S*4g
36.B*7d
(diagram 2)

WATANABE's 7g-Silver naturally escaped from the 8e-Knight attack with 24.S-8f . MORIUCHI dropped a Bishop with 24...B*2b threatening the 9i-Lance . WATANABE escaped the Lance with 25.L-9f .

MORIUCHI crushed his 4d-Silver with 25...S4d-5e . WATANABE didn't capture the Silver , but advanced the 7th file Pawn with 26.P-7d . MORIUCHI tried to break WATANABE's camp , WATANABE made a promoted Pawn with 30.P-7c+ attacking MORIUCHI's Rook .

MORIUCHI still attack WATANABE's camp ran through all his pieces in hand . WATANABE dropped a Bishop with 36.B*7d attacking the 5b-Gold , an important piece for defend MORIUCHI's King . Until diagram 2 , WATANABE seemed to get an advantage .

(diagram 3)

36...G5b-4b
37.+P-7b Sx5f=
38.Gx5f R-4a
39.S*5b Gx5b
40.Bx5b+ G*4b
41.+Bx4a Gx4a
42.R*7a N-7g+
43.G*5b B-3c
44.Rx4a+ K-2b
45.+Rx3b Kx3b
46.N*2d Px2d
47.S*4a resigns
(diagram 3)


After 93 moves , WATANABE won the game .