55th Meijin Match, Game 6

  Sente: Meijin Yoshiharu Habu
   Gote: Challenger Koji Tanigawa
  Event: 55th Meijin Match, Game 6
   Date: 1997 June 10th & 11th
   Site: Gumma
Opening: Bogin

[Notes based on Shukan Shogi, 97-June-18.]

1. P7f P8d 2. S6h P3d 3. P6f P8e 4. S7g S7b 5. P5f S8c

Tanigawa chooses the Quick Attack Bogin, as he did twice against Taku Morishita (8-dan) in the recent All-Japan Pro Championship.

6. B7i S8d 7. G7h

7. R8h is also possible. Habu defends in a more normal fashion.

7... G3b 8. P2f S4b 9. S4h K4a 10. G5h P6d 11. G56g

The sealed move.

11... S9e 12. B6h P6e 13. S5g P8f 14. P8f S8f!?

After 14... S8f!? At first glance, an astonishing move. Tanigawa sacrifices a silver, but only temporarily. His attack will not be broken easily.

15. S8f P8h! 16. N7g

If 16. G8h, then 16... P6f 17. S6f P6e 18. S67g R8f!, and sente would be clearly worse after either 19. S8f B8h+ or 19. B5g R8b.

16... R8f 17. P8g R8d 18. G8h P6f 19. S6f

The dust has settled. Habu has picked up a pawn, but his pieces are in disarray.

19... P1d 20. K6i K3a 21. K7h P3e?

One move too early. The right way was 21... B1c 22. P4f and then 22... P3e followed by R3d and N3c, with chances for both sides.

22. S4f!

After 22. S4f! Solid. Habu turns the tables. Tanigawa's attack is all but stopped in its tracks.

22... P7d 23. P2e N7c 24. B5g P7e

A somewhat desperate-looking maneuver.

25. S7e R4d 26. P6d G6b 27. B6f R3d 28. P6c+ G6c 29. B2b+ K2b 30. B4e

Ouch. Gote's Rook and Gold are attacked. If 30... R5d, 31. P5e leaves gote helpless. Here the commentators were predicting a quick Habu victory. But it's not all that easy.

30... B3i

The only try.

31. R3h

Matters are not all that clear after 31. R6h R5d 32. P5e P4d 33. B1h R6d 34. P6e G7d! either.

31... B7e+ 32. P7e R6d 33. P6e G5d 34. P6d G4e 35. S4e B2g 36. R2h B4e+ 37. P2d P2d 38. P6c+ P6f 39. G6f P6e 40. G5e S6g!

After 40... S6g! With this shot, Tanigawa stays in the game.

41. K8i

41. K6g loses to 41... S6f and 42... S5e.

41... +B2c 42. P2e P2e 43. +P5c S5c 44. B5a

44. R7d P5d 45. P2d +B2d 46. R7c+ may have been better.

44... S4b 45. B7c+ P7f 46. P2d +B2d 47. G4e S6f 48. G*3d P7g+ 49. G7g S7g+ 50. +B5e S*3c 51. +B7g G7h 52. R7h S7h+ 53. K7h P7f 54. G2d P7g+ 55. K7g S2d 56. S3d

56. B5e B3c 57. R8b B5e 58. P5e was suggested as a last try, but after 58... P7f 59. K8f P8e 60. K8e B6c 61. P7d B4e, sente appears to be lost anyway.

56... G6f 57. K8f R8a!

Tanigawa drives safely. With this move and the following B6c-4e, the win is secure.

58. N8d R8d 59. K9f B6c 60. R7d R7d 61. P7d B4e 62. S4e R7f

The final position The finish is not difficult: A) 63. X*8f N8d 64. K8e G9d mate or B) 64. P8f N8d 65. K8g R7g+ 66. K9h G8h mate. 0-1

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