Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Result of 24th Asahi Open Championship Final

Fujii 9dan beat Goda 9dan with 88 moves in the game of 24th Asahi Open Shogi Championship today. you can replay the full game. The left is the resignation diagram when Fujii dropped his Silver on 9i to check Goda's King. Fujii played Gote(upper side) and had a Gold, kNight, Lance and a pawn while Goda had two Bishops, a Gold, Silver, kNight, and four pawns. After the diagram, Sente's King would be easy to be checkmated. The possible lines are followings;

K-9h G*8h(mate)

Kx9i G-8i K-9h G*8h (mate)

What would happen if Sente's king was not in check? Could you see the mating line for Gote's King? Just for your reference, I'm writing how Gote's king to be mated unless Sente's King is in check.

S*9c Kx9c +Rx9a P*9b G*9d(mate)

S*9c Lx9c B*9a K7b(K-9b G*8b, mate) B*8a(mate)

N*9d instead of S*9c would cause to mate Gote's King as well. Please think of the variation if you are interested. The resignation diagram is a typical example of a shogi game with one-move difference.

The Winner Fujii will challenge Asahi Habu It will be a three wins match and the first game will be held in the coming April.

24th Asahi Open

Today is the day for the final match of 24th Asahi Open Championship between Goda 9dan and Fujii 9dan. The winner will challenge Asahi Habu in the coming April. You can watch and replay the game at here. Goda played Sente(Black).

There are several games of Asahi Open Championship which are available to replay.

Miyata 5dan vs Meijin Moriuchi - Played on Oct. 28, 2005, Miyata won. Both Ibisha.

Fukaura 8dan vs Sugimoto 6dan - Played on Dec 2, 2005, Fukaura won, Ibisha anaguma vs Sangenbisha(3rd file rook).

Kisei Sato vs Shinya Sato 5dan - Played on Dec.2, 2005, Shinya Sato won. Both Yagura.

Goda 9dan vs Yamazaki 6dan - Played on Jan. 26, 2006, Goda won, Kakugawari(Bishop Exchange)

Morishita 9dan vs Naruyuki Hatakeyama 7dan - Played on Jan. 27, 2006, Morishita won, Ibisha Anaguma cs Sangenbisha(3rd file rook)

Fujii 9dan vs Ryuo Watanabe - Played on Jan. 27, 2006, Fujii won, Quick attack vs Shikenbisha(4th file rook)

Miyata 5dan vs Goda 9dan - Played on Feb 13, 2006, Goda won, Aigakari

Morishita 9dan vs Tanigawa 9dan - Played on Feb 17, 2006, Tanigawa won, Both Furibisha

Miura 8dan vs Goda 9dan - Played on Feb 23, 2006, Goda won, Both Yagura

Asahi Open Championship is sponsored by Asahi Shimbun If you can read Japanese, you may be interested in reading the shogi top page in www.asahi.com.

Top 10 shogi players who earned prize and fight money most for 2005

On March 2, Nihon Shogi Renmei unveiled the ranking of prize and fight money for the year 2005. You can see the top 10 shogi players who earned prize and fight money most for the period on the chart above. The unit is million yen. (Correction on Apr. 1, Hiroyuki Miura ranked at 10th place in 2004, not at 6th place. Sorry for any inconveneince caused.)

This does not include income coming from copyright of books, guarantee of TV appearance, or any other income without playing an official shogi game.