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26th Kio-sen, Game 1
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1 March 2001
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Attack and defense
To play through the game in a Java viewer, click
here.
Black: Kubo Toshiaki, Challenger
White: Habu Yoshiharu, Kio
26th Kio-sen, Game 1, February 14th 2001
1.P7g-7f
2.P3c-3d
3.P6g-6f
4.P8c-8d
5.R2h-6h
Kubo is a specialist in both Sankenbisha and Shikenbisha, and his first title match appearance is started with ranging the rook to the sixth file. The young challenger (25) said he did not feel any pressure in his first title match game and just played it like any other game. Still, the different atmosphere (wearing formal kimono, for example) must have been special.
6.S7a-6b
7.P1g-1f
8.K5a-4b
9.S3i-3h
10.K4b-3b
11.S7i-7h
12.P5c-5d
13.S7h-6g
14.G6a-5b
15.P1f-1e
16.P8d-8e
17.B8h-7g
18.B2b-3c
19.P4g-4f
20.K3b-2b
21.P3g-3f
22.L1a-1b
23.S6g-5f
Already it is clear that Kubo is a different kind of Furibisha player than Ryu-O Fujii. Even though Kubo plays a kind of Fujii system here, his style is much more aggressive. Fujii plays to take away the opportunities of the opponent with slow strangulation as the main goal. Kubo on the other hand, aims for a quick development of his pieces (sabaki), opening the game as quickly as possible.
24.P5d-5e?!
Habu is not afraid. He invites the silver to move up. This move says "Come and get me if you can". Objectively, this seems a little dubious.
25.S5f-4e
26.R8b-8d
27.P6f-6e
28.K2b-1a?!
It is possible that Habu overlooked something here. In the press
room 28.K3b was analysed, which is probably better. However, moving back the king would show a weak heart, so I doubt that Habu considered this very long.
29.P6e-6d
30.S3a-2b
31.S4ex3d
32.B3c-4b
33.P6dx6c+
34.S6bx6c
35.S3dx4c=
Here Kubo looked in amazement at his own position: "I was very surprised at how well it was going here". White seems to be completely lost as Gx4c Rx6c+ is too bad. In the press room it was expected that the game would be over very soon. However...
36.B4b-6d!
Again the shogi gods smile on Habu. It can only be called amazing luck that white's position is still playable after this move. The difference in king defence is just enough to give Habu a counter attack.
37.S4cx5b=
38.S6cx5b
39.G*9e
Black wants to play 39.G*7e, but after 40.P*6g Rx6g Bx7e Px7e S*7e white takes over the game.
40.R8d-7d
41.G9ex8e
42.P5e-5f
43.G8ex7d
44.B6dx4f
45.R6h-6b+
46.P5fx5g+
47.R*4c
In the press room, 47.R*4e was analysed extensively, but after 48.P*6h Rx4f Px6i+ Kx6i P*6h K7i S*6i (or S*6g) white's attack seems too strong.
48.S*5e
49.R4cx4f+
50.S5ex4f
51.P*5h
52.P*4h
53.G4i-3i
54.P*6h
55.G6i-7i
56.P7cx7d?
Here it seems that Habu could have won with 56.S4g+!. Taking this
gold gives Kubo the opportunity to regroup his defence.
57.P5hx5g
58.P*5f
59.P5gx5f
60.R*5g
61.K5ix6h
62.R5gx5f+
63.G3ix4h
64.P*6c
65.B*3d
66.G*6g
67.K6h-6i
68.G6gx7g
69.B3dx5f
70.B*8d
71.N8ix7g
72.B8dx4h+
73.K6i-7h
74.S4f-5g+
75.B5f-6e
76.+S5g-6g
77.K7hx6g
78.G*6f
79.K6g-7h
80.G6fx6e
81.N7gx6e
82.+B4hx3h
83.N6e-5c+
84.B*4d
85.G*6h
86.B4dx5c
87.+R6bx5c
88.S5bx5c
89.B*8h
Now the tables have turned in Kubo's favour. White's attack is no longer strong enough.
90.+B3h-6e
91.R*8b
92.N*5e
93.G*6f?
In byoyomi Kubo makes the decisive mistake. Here 93.K8i would have given him great chances to win. After 94.+B5f G*7h black's king is completely safe.
94.+B6ex6f
95.B8hx6f
96.G*5f
97.B6fx5e
98.G5fx5e
99.P1e-1d
100.P1cx1d
101.P*1c
102.L1bx1c
103.B*3d
104.R*2d!
Habu shows some nice defending skills with major pieces here. Usually, it is hard to defend with bishops and rooks ("Without a gold in hand, there is no defence"), but here is an exception. This rook defends against the mating threat P*1b, attacks the attacking bishop and also will play a decisive role in mating the black king.
105.B3d-4c+
106.S5c-4b
107.+B4cx4b
108.G4ax4b
109.R8bx4b+
110.S*3a
111.+R4b-4a
112.G5e-6f
113.N*3c
114.B*3b
The second defensive drop of a major piece. This bishop also threatens to help in the attack by capturing the pawn on 7f.
115.N3cx2a+
116.K1ax2a
117.+R4ax8a
Tempting is 117.N*3c, but after 118.Sx3c S*1b Kx1b +Rx3a the move
B*2a (another major piece in defence) is winning for white. Capturing the pawn on 7f next is a mating threat.
118.N*5f
119.G6h-5h
120.P*8f
121.P*4c
122.R2dx2g+
123.N*4d
124.G6f-7g
125.K7h-6i
126.B*7h
127.K6i-5i
128.+R2gx2i
Resigns. Time: 03:59:00 03:59:00
Mate after 129.N*4i N*4g Gx4g P*5h Kx5h B6g+. A great game with both players attacking and defending almost from the start. Kubo really showed his great potential here and was unlucky that he could not start his first title match with a win. This might be important, as Kubo now desperately needs to win the next one, as 2-0 down in a best-of-five match against Habu seems hopeless.
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