Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Let's Catch the Lion seems to become available for iPhotn/iPad

Let's Catch the Lion(Dobutsu Shogi) seems to become available for iPhone/iPlad.

• App Shopper: LET'S CATCH THE LION! (Games)

6 boardlives today - Final Round of 51st Oui-sen Red/White League

The following boardlives are available to watch now.

< Red Legue> 

• 5-dan Hirose Akihito(sente) vs Ryuoh Watanabe Akira
• 7-dan Matsuo Ayumu(sente) vs 9-dan Sato Yasumitsu
• 8-dan Kimura Kazuki(sente) vs 4-dan Ohishi tadashi

< White League >

• Meijin Habu Yoshiharu vs 9-dan Maruyama Tadahissa
• 8-dan Miura Hiroyuki vs 5-dan Takazaki Issei
• 6-dan Tobe Makoto vs 7-dan Hashimoto Takanori

They started at 10:00am in Japan. The allotted thinking time per player is four hours and each player will have to make a move less than 60 seconds per move.

According to the 51st Oui-sen broadcasting official site, the score of each players up to the forth round is below;

< Red Legue >

• 1-3 --- 8-dan Kimura, 7-dan Matsuo, 4-dan Ohishi
• 3-1 --- 9-dan Sato, Ryuoh Watanabe, 5-dan Hirose

< White Legue >

• 3-1 --- Meijin Habu, 9-dan Maruyama, 6-dan Tobe
• 1-3 --- 7-dan Hashimoto, 8-dan Miura, 5-dan Takazaki

In order to survive to stay in the challenger-deciding leagues for the next term, one should occupy the second place or higher to get exemption from the long preliminary tournament to enter to the leagues.  So there is no hope already for the players with 1-3 before the final round. It actually a survival race among the players with 3-1. The top players between Red and White league will have a challenger deciding match at a later date to challenge Oui Fukaura Koichi.

Mainichi Daily News Reported about Habu's defending Meijin Title

Here it is.

• Shogi champ Habu collects 3rd straight Meijin title - The Mainichi Daily News #shogi

Boardlive now - 2nd game of 21st Joryu Oui-sen best of five match

The game between Joryu oui Shimizu and Queen Kai  started at 9:00am at Egret Himeji in Hyogo prefecture. Before the game, Kai leads the score in 1-0. You may watch and replay the game through the link below;

• Shimizu(Sente, balck) vs Kai

The allotted thinking time per player is four hours. It will end in one or two hours from now. And the frequently updated photos of both players are available to watch here (Upper = Shimizu, Lower = Kai).

Habu defended Meijin Title in 4-0

On May 18 and 19, the 4th game of 68th Meijin-sen was held at Jonan Club in Fukuoka Prefecture. Habu beat Miura in 163 moves. Different from last three games, Miura did not choose Yokofutori(Side Pawn) and took a slow opening without Bishop exchange. I think the position fluctuated several times but Habu finally grasped a win of a long game. He defended the title of Meijin with this victory in 4-0. You may replay the game through the link below;

• Habu vs Miura
  

Hayashiba will take part in the coming NRS Cup

LPSA announced this news in Japanese.  Mainichi Daily News covered it in English. Hayashiba Naoko will come back.

• Women's shogi star Hayashiba to return to game after 15-year hiatus - The Mainichi Daily News

According to LPSA, Hayashiba's opponent will be Nakakura Akiko and it will be played someday in the coming July.

Boardlive today - 1st game of 21st Ladies Oui-sen best of five match

The 1st game started at 9:00am today. It's on boardlive now. As a result of Furigoma, Challenger Joryu-2dan Kai Tomomi became Sente. Gote is of course defender Ladies Oui Shimizu. The venue is Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo. You can watch and replay the game through the following link.

• Kai vs Shimizu

The allotted thinking time per player is four hours and each will have to make a move less than 60 seconds after consuming it.

Habu took the third game in a row - 68th Meijin-sen

On May 6 & 7, the third game of 68th Meijin-sen best of seven game was held at Noda Shimin Kaikan in Chiba  Prefecture. Meijin Habu was Gote in this game and he beat Miura following to the last two game. After the game, the score became 3-0 led by Habu. You can replay the game through the linke below;

• Miura vs Habu
  

Miura seemed to fail deciding his next move and the voice of cownting-up reached 59 seconds, then he resined the game. I heard that Miura could have entered his King to Habu's camp but the 60 seconds were too short for the complicated position. The forth game will take place on May 18 & 19.

Dr. Gralla's interview with Fujita Maiko - the co-designer of Let's Catch the Lion(Dobutsu Shogi)

Here are the links of the interview.

• Let's catch the lion
• Spieleautorin Fujita über den Erfolg ihres Brettspiels in der Heimat Japan

Gekisashi came back to the winner - 20th World Computer Shogi Championship

20th World Computer Shogi Championship was held on May 2 through 4 in Tokyo. Gekisashi became the winner. Here are the standings of the final league.

1. Gekisashi
2. Shuso
3. GPS Shogi
4. Bonkurahzu
5. Bonanza Feliz
6. Ohtsuki Shogi
7. Shibaura Shogi
8. YSS