Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Number of shogi players reached 125 in Brainking.com at End of Dec.

According to the ratings page of provisional BKR players in Brainking.com, the number of shogi players who has provisional BKR reached 125 at the end of December(JST).  The site has added shogi to its wide variety of game line since August 12, 2005(JST). Comparing with the end of this November, the number of players was increased by 6 and that of countires was 31 which was the same as the end of November..

The details by country are as followings;
Czech --- 27(-2)
USA --- 19(-1)
UK --- 7(+3)
Netherland --- 6(+1)
Russia --- 6(+1)
Slovakia --- 6(+2)
Sweden --- 5(+2)
Bergium --- 4(+1)
Germany --- 4(+2)
England --- 3(-1)
Australia --- 3(0)
France --- 3(0)
Japan --- 3(0)
Portugal --- 3(0)
Finland --- 2(+1)
Italy --- 2(+1)

Austria --- 1(0)
Canada --- 1(0)
Estonia --- 1(0)
Guatemala --- 1(0)
Hungary --- 1(0)
Israel --- 1(0)
Korea --- 1(0)
Latvia --- 1(0)
New Zealand --- 1(0)
Northern Ireland --- 1(0)
Norway --- 1(0)
Sami --- 1(0)
Spain --- 1(0)
Switzerland --- 1(+1)
Turkey --- 1(0)
Unknown --- 7(-4)

Title Match Result - JT Shogi Nippon Series Final

On Dec. 11, the final match of JT Shogi Nippon Series between Fujii 9dan(Black) and Goda 9dan occurred at the Public Hall in Hibiya Park at the center of Tokyo City. Fujii won the game with 55 moves. This match was open to public and there were more than 800 audience. Before the match, two final matches of JT children tournament for upper and lower graded elementary school students were played on the stage of the hall.

The diagram shows the position just before Fujii 9dan's decisive move then Goda dropped his Silver on 5c to threat Black's promoted rook. Can you imagine his next move? It was B*3c!! which surprised the audience. After the B*3c, the actual line was as the following;

Nx3c Nx3c+ Kx3c Nx2e K-4c S*5b(Resign)

After the resignation, the mate line is K-4b +R-5a(mate)

If  Goda escaped his King to K-2d instead of K-4c, then the following line would give make Fujii win the game as well;

S*1e Kx2e +Rx3b(Hisshi)

White could not defend black's next gold drop on 2f(mate).

You can replay the full gamerecord here(FlashPlayer needed).

First privatetournament will be held in Kurnik.org at 13:30(GMT)

According to the shogi disscussion board of brainking.com, the first private shogi tournament hosted by Yury Shpilev will be held in Kurnik.org at 13:30(GMT) on December 3. It said all the shogi players are to be invited.

I wish I could say I'm sure to participate. It will be at 22:30(JST). I'm going out for a reunion dinner party this evening  so I will have to come back home without too much drinking tonight:-).

Remarks(added on Dec. 16)

yuryshpilev is one of shogi organizers in Russia.

The first private tournament in Kurnik.org was held by zx_rodzynek on Nov.23.

1 move tsume problem - 003

You have a silver on 2a on the board and a Rook, a Gold and a Silver in and. White's promoted Bishop on 3c is very strong for defence. Which do you think is the right piece to drop to checkmate the King on 1a and where to drop? Only one piece of the three can checkmate the King.

The answer will be up in the comment section.

Number of shogi players reached 119 in Brainking.com at End of Nov

According to the ratings page of provisional BKR players in Brainking.com, the number of shogi players who has provisional BKR reached 119 at the end of November(JST).  The site has added shogi to its wide variety of game line since August 12, 2005(JST). Comparing with the end of this Octorber, the number of players was increased by 27 and that of countires was increased to 31.

The details by country are as followings;
Czech --- 29 players
USA --- 20
Netherland --- 5
Russia --- 5
England --- 4
Slovakia --- 4
UK --- 4
Australia --- 3
Bergium --- 3
France --- 3
Japan --- 3
Portugal --- 3
Sweden --- 3
Germany --- 2
Austria --- 1
Canada --- 1
Estonia --- 1
Finland --- 1
Guatemala --- 1
Hungary --- 1
Israel --- 1
Italy --- 1
Korea --- 1
Latvia --- 1
New Zealand --- 1
Northern Ireland --- 1
Norway --- 1
Sami --- 1
Spain --- 1
Switzerland --- 1
Turkey --- 1
Not specified --- 11

Title Match Result - 4th game, Ryuoh

On November 30, the 4th game of 18th Ryuoh Title Matches was ended with Ryuoh Watanabe's victory with 101 moves. Watanabe made a first move. The score is 4-0 after the game and Watanabe defended the title for the first time of his professional shogi carrer.

Here is the resignation diagram when Watanabe dropped his Gold on 5c. Challenger Kimura 7dan resigned to see it. After the regination diagram, there are forced mates as followings;

K-6d +Rx6b(mate)

K-7c +Rx6b K-8c B*6a K-9c +R-7c K-9b +R-8c(mate)

K-7b +Rx6b K-8a L*8c(mate)

The full game record is replayable at here(Java capable browser is required).

Congratulation on Watanabe Ryuoh. He is entitled to get promoted to 9dan with this victory. It is the birth of the youngest 9dan in the history of shogi.