On October 10 and 11, the first game of the 19th Ryuoh-sen between Ryuoh Watanabe and Challenger Kisei Sato was held at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco, USA. Ryuoh-sen is four-wins match and its prize money is the biggest in the professional shogi world. The winner of the match will take 32 million yen.
As a result of Furigoma, Challenger Kisei Sato made a first move. Sato won the game with 111moves. The diagram in the left is when Ryuoh Watanabe resigned the game after seeing Sato moved his promoted Bishop to 4e. Sente's(Black, Lower side of the diagram) King is not in threatmate. So it would not be necessary for Sente to give forced mate to Gote's King. After the diagram, the possible variations would be as followings;
P-9g+ N*2e K-2c P*2d K-1d B*2c K-2d +Bx3d(mate)
P-9g+ N*2e K-2c P*2d K-1d B*2c Kx2e G*3f Kx2d Bx3d+ K-1d +B-2c(mate)
P-9g+ N*2e K-2c P*2d Kx2d +Bx4f S*3e K-2c B*1d(!) Kx1d G*2d(mate)
P-9g+ N*2e K-2c P*2d Kx2d +Bx4f S*3e K-2c B*1d(!) Lx1d G*3c K-1b +B-1c K-2a +B-2b(mate)
P-9g+ N*2e K-3b +Bx3d S*8h Rx8h +Px8h Kx8h Lx9h+ Lx9h Rx9h+ Kx9h L*9a K-8g R*9g K-7f R-9f+ L*8f(Now Gote's pieces in hand is running out and Gote's King is in brinkmate).
You can replay the full game on the virtual board(Java capable browser needed). Ryuo-sen is sponsored by Yomiuri Shimbun. The next game will be held on October 31 and November 1. Ryuoh Watanabe will make a first move.
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