On December 20 and 21, the 7th and final game of 19th Ryuoh title match was held in Niigata prefecture, Japan. As a result of Furigoma, Watanabe became Sente(the first mover). He won it in 149 moves. By this victory, Watanabe defended the title of Ryuoh by the score of 4-3 following to the 18th term last year and he has held it for three terms in a row. No one expect Fujii 9dan had held the title for such terms before. Congratulation on Watanabe's great achievement! He earned 32 million yen as prize money and 14.5million yen as Taikyokuryo.
You may replay the game here.(using Kifu for Java V.2.23. Java-capable browser required). The usage of pawn presented by Watanabe in this game was very tactful and must-see. And decisive bishop drop on 5g as the 125th move and trading it for a Pawn a few moves later were brilliant. If you would like to read the reports about Ryuoh-sen in Japanese or to watch photos of it, Ryuoh-sen blog is for you. It has archives by day.
The diagram above is the resignation diagram where Watanabe made the 149th move of G4b-3a. Sato resigned at that time. At the diagram, Gote(White, Upper side)'s King is hopeless. Here are some examples of possible variation after it. You will understand what a good pawn drop on 3f as the 119th move was by getting through them.
K-2c P*2d K-3c Sx4d Kx4d R-4b+ P*4c G*3e(mate)
K-2c P*2d K-3c Sx4d Kx4d R-4b+ K-3d G*3e(mate)
K-2c P*2d K-3c Sx4d Kx2d S-3e K-3c G*3d(mate)
K-2c P*2d K-3c Sx4d Kx2d S-3e K-2e G*2f(mate)
+R-2b N*2d K-2c Rx2b+ Kx2b G-3b K-2c R*2b(mate)
P*2b N*2d K-2c Gx2a Gx3e R-3b+ Kx2d +Rx3e K-2c R*2d K-1b Rx2b+(mate)
G*2b Gx2a Kx2a Rx2b+ Kx2b R*4b P*3b G*3c Kx3c +Rx4d K-2b N*3d K-2c G*2b(mate)
G*2b Gx2a Kx2a Rx2b+ Kx2b R*4b S*3b G*3c Kx3c +Rx4d K-2c +R-2d K-1b G*2b(mate)
G*2b Gx2a Kx2a Rx2b+ Kx2b R*4b G*3b G*3c Kx3c +Rx4d K-2c S-2d K-1b G*2c Gx2c Sx2c+ Kx2c G*3c K-1b +R-4b K-2a +R-2b(mate)
G*2b Gx2a Kx2a Rx2b+ Kx2b R*4b G*3b G*3c Kx3c +Rx4d K-2b N*3d K-1b G*2b Gx2b Nx2b+ Kx2b P*2c Kx2c G*3c K-1b +R-4b K-2a +R-2b(mate)
G*2b Gx2a Kx2a Rx2b+ Kx2b R*4b R*3b G*3c Kx3c R-4d+ K-2b N*3d K-1b G*2b Rx2b Nx2b+ Kx2b P*2c Kx2c R*2d K-3b R-3d K-2a +R-4a K-1b R-3b+ P*2b +R4a-2a(mate)
G*2b Gx2a Kx2a Rx2b+ Kx2b R*4b N*3b N*3d K-3c Sx4d Nx4d G*4c Kx4d G*3e K-2c R-3b+(mate)
G*2b Gx2a Kx2a Rx2b+ Kx2b R*4b N*3b N*3d K-3c Sx4d K-3d G*3e K-2c G*3c K-1b Rx3b+(mate)
G*2b Gx2a Kx2a Rx2b+ Kx2b R*4b N*3b N*3d Gx3d P*2c Kx2c Sx3d Kx3d G*3e K-3c G*4c K-2b Rx3b+(mate)
G*2b Gx2a Kx2a Rx2b+ Kx2b R*4b N*3b N*3d Gx3d P*2c Kx2c Sx3d Kx3d G*3e K-2c R-4c+ G*3c G-3d K-1b G*2b Kx2b Gx3c K-2a +Rx3b(mate, replayable in the diagram by clicking the arow toward the right direction)
In any case, Gote's King would be trapped.
Here are the important variation at the 123th move and 125th move. Both diagrams are Gote's turn and Gote could attack by sacrificing kNight by N*7e to be followed by the moves like Px7e S*7f. The following replayable diagrams show what would happen if Gote did so. As you can see, Gote's King would be trapped in both cases. Sometimes the exclamation mark appears under the diagrams when you replay the variations. You can read my comments by clicking the mark.(A small window containing my comment appears). Another click of the exclamation mark bring the small window away.
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