Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Sato became new Kio title holder

On March 28, the 5th game of 32nd Kio-sen between Kio Moriuchi and Challenger Kisei Sato was held in Tokyo, Japan. Sato was a Sente(black) player as a result of Frigoma and won the game in 105 moves. You may replay the game through this page.  And you can see lots of pictures about this game in JSA's blog of Kio-sen . Sato became the new Kio title holder with the score of 3-2 by this victory. Kio sen is 3-wins match. He challenged Oui, Ouza,  Ryuoh and Osho in vain for this fiscal year(April through March). Congratulation on Sato's final win in his 5th and final title match as a challenger for the year.

The diagram above is the resignation diagram where Sato took the promoted Silver on 7h by his King.  There is no mate for Sente(Black, lower side of the diagram)'s King and no defence for Gote(White, upper side of the diagram)'s King. The possible variations I analyzed are as followings;

G-5h S*8d Kx8d S*7e K-9c S*9d(!) K-9b N*8d K-8b +P-7b(mate)

G-5h S*8d Kx8d S*7e K-9c S*9d Kx9d G*8d(mate)

G-5h S*8d K-9d N*8f Kx8d S*7e K-9c S*8d K-9b G*8b(!) Kx8b Nx7d Px7d +P-7b K-9b +R-8c(mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction under the diagram).

R*5h N*6h R-5i+ +Px7c Nx7c S*7b K-9b S*9c(!) Kx9c +Rx7c P*8c G*8d K-9b S-8a=(mate)

R*5h N*6h R-5i+ +Px7c Nx7c S*7b K-8d S*7e K-8e P-8f K-9d G*8d(mate)

R*5h N*6h R-5i+ +Px7c Nx7c S*7b K-9d S*8c Bx8c Sx8c= Kx8c B*7b K-8d S*7e K-9c +Rx7c K-9b +Rx8c(mate)

2007 U. S. Shogi Championship in LA

According to shogi-l(a mailing list), 2007 U.S. Shogi Championship will be held in LA from April 27(Fri.) to 29. Some professional players will go there from Japan to cooperate in this event. For more details, please refer to the announcement distributed to shogi-l.

Resut of 4th game of 32nd Kio sen

On March 23, the 4th game of 32nd Kio-sen between Kio Moriuchi and Challenger Kisei Sato was held in Tokyo, Japan. Moriuchi was a Sente(black) player and won the game in 65 moves. You may replay the game through this page. Now the score is tied by 2-2. The 5th(final)game will be held on March 28.

The diagram above is the resignation diagram where Moriuchi dropped a pawn on 5d.  There is no mate for Gote(White, upper side of the diagram). But the position is hopeless for him. The possible variations I analyzed are as followings;

Px5d S*5c R*1b G*6b K-4a Gx5b Rx5b +Rx6a G*5a +Rx5b G*5b Sx5b+ Kx5b G*5c K-6a G*6b(mate, replayable by clicking the arow in the right direction under the diagram)

Bx4e Px4e N*7f S*6f Nx8h+ Kx8h Bx1i+ Px5c+ Sx5c P*5b Kx5b B*7d L*6c Bx6c+ Kx6c +Rx6a S*6b L*5g P*5e Sx5e +Bx5e L*5e B*6e B*5b(mate)

Bx4e Px4e Px5d S*4d Bx1i+ P*5c S-4a G*5b Sx5b Px5b+ Kx5b S*4c K-6b B*5c K-5a S-4b+(mate)

Bx4e Px4e Bx8h+ Kx8h N*7f  K-7g N-8e K-8f N-8h+ Px5c+ Sx5c P*5b Kx5b B*3d P*4c B*7d K-4b B-4a+ Kx4a +Rx6a P*5a S*5b K-3b Sx4c+ K-2b Bx2c+ Kx2c G*2d K-2b G*2c K-3a G-3b(mate)

There may be more variations. But In any case, Sente should win the game.

Habu has got entitled to be Permanent Osho

On March 19 and 20, the 7th(final) game of 56th Osho-sen between Osho Habu and Challenger Kisei Sato was held at Island Sado in Niigata prefecture, Japan. As a result of Furigoma, Habu was a Sente(Black) player and he won the game in 111 moves. He defended the Osho title and he has got entitled to be 2nd permanent Osho following to 1st Ohama since he has 10 terms of the title with this victory. Congratulation on Habu's great achievement You may replay the game here.

The diagram above is the resignation diagram when Habu dropped his kNight on 6e. After the diagram, Gote(White, upper side of the diagram)'s King will be forced to be mated. The possible variations I think are as followings;

K-4d G*4e K-4c G-3d K-5b S*5c K-6a G*6b(mate)

K-4c S-3d K-4d G*4e(mate)

K-4c S-3d K-5b G*5c K-6a G*6b(mate)

K-4b S*5c K-3b Bx2c+(!) Kx2c L*2d K-3c G*2c K-4c G*4d(mate)

K-4b S*5c K-3b Bx2c+(!) Kx2c L*2d K-3b G*2c K-4a G*4b(mate)

K-4b S*5c K-3a P*3b K-2a P*2b K-1b Bx2c+(!) Kx2c L*2d K-3c G*2c K-4c G*4d(mate)

K-4b S*5c K-3a P*3b K-2a P*2b Kx2b Bx2c+(!) Kx2c L*2d K-3b G*2c K-4a G*4b(mate)

K-6b S*5c K-7b G*7c K-8a Gx8b Kx8b S*7c K-8c L*8d +Bx8d Sx8d+ Kx8d B*7e Rx7e Gx7e Kx7e R*8e K-7d G*8d(mate)

K-6b S*5c K-7b G*7c K-8a Gx8b Kx8b S*7c Rx7c Nx7c+ Kx7c R*7a P*7b L*7d Kx7d Rx7b+ P*7c G*8e(mate)

K-6b S*5c K-7b G*7c K-8a Gx8b Kx8b S*7c Rx7c Nx7c+ Kx7c R*7a K-8b G*7c Kx7a S-6b+ K-8a +S-7b K-9b +S-8b(mate)

K-6b S*5c K-7b G*7c K-8a Gx8b Kx8b S*7c Rx7c Nx7c+ Kx7c R*7a K-8c G*7c K-9d G-8e K-9c L*9d(mate)

K-6b S*5c K-7b G*7c Sx7c Nx7c+ Kx7c P*7d K-8c L*8e P*8d G*7c Rx7c Px7c+ Kx7c P*7d Kx7d R*7a P*7c B-5f +Bx5f S*7e K-8c Sx8d K-8b Sx7c+ K-7a S-6b+(mate)

K-6b S*5c K-7b G*7c Sx7c Nx7c+ Kx7c P*7d K-8b G*7c Rx7c Px7c+ Kx7c P*7d K-8b S*7c K-8c R-8b K-7d R-8e+ Kx7c L*7d(mate, replayable by clicking the arow in the right direction under the diagram)

K-6b S*5c K-7b G*7c Sx7c Nx7c+ Kx7c P*7d K-8d G-8e K-8c G*7c Rx7c Px7c+ Kx7c L*7d K-8c R*7c K-9b R-7b+ P*8b S*8c K-9a +Rx8b(mate)

K-6b S*5c K-7b G*7c Sx7c Nx7c+ Kx7c P*7d Kx7d L*7e +Bx7e Gx7e Kx7e B*6f K-7d G*8d K-6e S*7f Rx7f Bx7f K-5f R*4f(mate)

K-6d S*5c K-7d L*7e K-8c G*9c Sx9c G*7c K-9b Px9c+ Kx9c P*9d Kx9d G-8e K-9c G-9d K-9b G9d-8c K-8a G8c-8b(mate)

K-6d S*5c K-7d L*7e +Bx7e G*7e Kx7e B*6f Kx6e G*7f Rx7f Bx7f K-5f G*4f(mate)

There might be more variations. But Gote's king would be mated in any case

Watanabe beat Bonanza, though Bonanza led the middlegame.

On March 21, the young title holder, Ryuoh Watanabe matched with Bonanza, 16th World Computer Shogi Champion in Tokyo Japan. Both did not give any handicap. Watanabe won the game in 112 moves. To our surprise, Bonanza slightly led the position in the middlegame but it turned around in the endgame. Watanabe's victory was expected by many people, but everyone was amazed how Bonanza played well and the prediction that computer will be able to beat Meijin in 2012 got more reality after the game.

You may replay this historical game here(Kifu for Java) or here(KiFLA).

And you can see lots of photoes in the blog specifically opened for this special match by Japan Shogi Association, although the texts are written in Japanese there.

The translation of entries in Watanabe's blog are availabe in shogi-l archives as below;

Re: Watanabe's comments

Re: Watanabe's comments (2)

Re: Watanabe's comments (3)

Result of 3rd game of 32nd Kio-sen

On March 10, the 3rd game of 32nd Kio-sen between Kio Moriuchi and Challenger Kisei Sato was held in Niigata prefecture, Japan. Sato was a Sente(black) player and won the game in 79 moves. You may replay the game through this page. Now Sato leads the score by 2-1.

The diagram above is the resignation diagram where Sato took Moriuchi's Rook on 6b by Bx6b+.  Gote(white, upper side of the diagram)'s King is in "Hisshi"(brinkmate)" and there was no mate for Sente(black, lower side of the diagram)'s King. Here are the possible variations after the diagram.

N-7g+ R*2a K-4b R-4a+(mate)

Gx3c G*2b(!) Kx2b Px3c+ Kx3c G*3d(!) Kx3d G*4d(mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction under the diagram)

Gx3c G*2b(!) K-4b R*4a(!) Kx4a  G*5b(mate)

B*8h Kx8h N-7g+ K-9h +Nx8g Kx8g N*9e K-9f(Sente's King cannot be trapped.)

P-6i+ Kx6i N*7g K-5i B*3g G*4h Bx4h+ Kx4h N-5g+ K-3i G*4h K-2i N*3g K-1h(Sente's King cannot be trapped.)

P-6i+ Kx6i N-5g= K-7i B*6h K-8h +S-7g K-9h +Sx8g Kx8g B-8f* K-9h(Sen te's King cannot be trapped.)

In any case, Sente should win the game.

The forth game will be held in Tokyo, Japan on March 23.

Result of 6th game of 56th Osho-sen

On March 6 and 7, the 6th game of 56th Osho-sen between Osho Habu and Challenger Kisei Sato was held in Shizuoka-prefecture, Japan. Habu was a Sente(Black) player and the game ended because of Sennichite(repetetion) in 100 moves. You may replay the game and read comments in Japanese through this page. After a short rest, another  6th game started with exchanging their turn to play.  Sato was a Sente this time and he won the game in 105 moves. You may replay the game ane read comments in Japanese through this page. After the game, the score is tied by 3-3.  The winner of the 7th game on March 19 and 20 will become the winner of the 56th term.

The diagram above is the resignation diagram when he dropped his Pawn on 5f to prevent Gote(White, or upper side of the diagram)'s King from escaping toward Sente(Black, or lower side of the diagram)'s camp. Sato's King is still safe in Anaguma Gakoi(castle). Even if Gote had thousands of pieces in hand, there would be no mate for Sente's King. We call such a position "Zettai ni Tsumanai" in Japanese which means the position not to be mated absolutely. And we often call it  "Z"  for short.  One of the sales points of Anaguma gokoi is "Z" which makes a player's reading easier and often enables him to concentrate on attacking in the endgame. Here is the possible variation after the diagram.

S*4d S*4e(!) Sx4e +B4c(mate)

R*4e S*5e K-5c +Bx6a Rx5e +B-4c(mate)

R*4e S*5e Rx5e Px5e Kx5e Rx5f(mate)

Gx7d S*5e K-6c +Bx6a N-8e G*5d K-7c Px7d K-8d Sx6d R*4h +Bx8c Kx8c P-7c+ K-8d G*8c(mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in a right direction under the diagram).

Gx7d S*5e K-6c +Bx6a S*5c +P-4c Rx3b +Px5c Kx5c G*4c K-5c S*5d(mate)

There might be more variations. But Gote would be hopeless in any case.

Result of 2nd game of 32nd Kio-sen

On February 24, the 2nd game of 32nd Kio-sen between Kio Moriuchi and Challenger Kisei Sato was held in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. Moriuchi was a Sente(black) player and won the game in 109 moves. You may replay the game through this page. Now the score is tied by 1-1. Since Kio-sen is 3-wins match, the next game will be important for both players.

The diagram above is the resignation diagram. When Moriuchi got promoted his Rook by moving it from 4b to 5b, Sato resigned. Here are the possible variations after the diagram;

B*9g Lx9g Px9g+ Kx9g R*9i K-8h L*9e G*8d(mate)

B*9g Lx9g Px9g+ Kx9g P*9f K-8h B*9g K-9h R*2h G*8d(mate)

B*9g Lx9g Px9g+ Kx9g L*9e K-8h B*9g K-8i R*6i L*7i Rx6g+ G*8d(mate)

B*9e +Rx5d B*3e L*9f P*5c R-4c R*2h Lx9e Sx9e B*9a K-8c B-8b+ K-9d +Bx7b L*8c G*8d Sx8d+ Kx8d S*9e(!) Kx9e +B-7c S-8d P*9f K-9d S*9e Sx9e Px9e K-9c L*9d(mate)

S9d-8c N-8e(mate)

S7b-8c G*6c(!) Nx6c +R-8b(mate, )

In any case, Sente(black or lower side of the diagram) should win the game.

The third game will be held in Niigata prefecture, Japan on March 10.

Result of 5th game of 56th Osho-sen

On February 15 and 16, the 5th game of 56th Osho-sen between Osho Habu and Challenger Kisei Sato was held in Ibaraki-prefecture, Japan. Sato was a Sente(Black) player and won the game in 207 moves. You may replay the game and read comments in Japanese through this page. After the game, Habu still leads the score by 3-2. If he win the next game on March 6 and 7, he will defend the title.

The diagram above is the resignation diagram. As you see, Sato's King entered into Habu's camp to reach the dead end. Whether Habu's King could enter into Habu's camp without losing his promoted Bishop was a question in the endgame. Sente's Pawn drop on 3h as the final move in the diagram broke Gote's hope. Here are the possible variations after it.

+Bx3h  R*4f  N*4e  G*5d  K-3e  G*3f(mate)

+Bx3h R*4f Kx5c P*5d Kx5d S*5e K-5c G*6d K-6b S-7c+ K-6a G*7b(mate)

+Bx3h R*4f Kx5c P*5d K-6d S*5e K-7d G*8e K-6c G*6c(mate)

+B-2h S*3g +B-1h R*4c K-3e R-4e+(!) Kx4e G*4f K-4d G*4c(mate)

+B-2h S*3g +B-1h R*4c K-3e R-4e+(!) +Bx4e G*2f K-4d G*4c(mate)

+B-2h S*3g +B-1g R*4c K-3e R-4e+(!) Kx4e G*4f K-4d G*4c(mate)

+B-2h S*3g +Bx3g R*4c K-3e Px3g K-2e +Nx5b Gx5b L*2i N*2f G*3f K-2d Lx2f K-1c N*2e K-1b Nx3c+ Nx3c Lx2c+ Kx2c B*4a L*3b P*2d Kx2d P*2e K-2c S*2d K-1b  G*2c  K-2a  Bx3b+(mate)

+B-2g G*3g +B-1h R*4c K-3e R-4e+(!) Kx4e S*4f K-4d G*4c(mate)

+B-2g G*3g +B-1h R*4c K-3e R-4e+(!) +Bx4e S*2f K-4d G*4c(mate)

+B-2g G*3g +Bx3g R*4c K-3e Px3g K-2e +Nx5b Gx5b  L*2i N*2f  S*3f  K-2d   Lx2f K-1c N*2e K-1b Nx3c+ Nx3c Lx2c+ Kx2c B*4a L*3b P*2d Kx2d P*2e K-2c S*2d K-1b  G*2c  K-2a  Bx3b+(mate)

There might be more variations. But Sente would be hopeless in any case.

 

Number of shogi players decreased to 147 in Brainking.com at End of February

According to the ratings page of provisional BKR players in Brainking.com, the number of shogi players who has provisional BKR increased to 147 at the end of February(JST). The site has added shogi to its wide variety of game line since August 12, 2005(JST). Comparing with the end of December, 2006 January, 2007, the number of shogi players decreased by 7. Please refer to the definition of BKR(BrainKing Rating) if you like to know.

The details by country are as followings; .

USA --- 30(-2)
Czech --- 12(-2)
Netherland --- 8(-2)
France --- 7(+2)
Italy --- 7(0)
Russia --- 6(-2)
Australia --- 6(-1)
UK --- 6(+2)
Germany --- 1(-4)
Slovakia --- 3(-2)
Portugal --- 6(+2)
England --- 4(-1)
Sweden --- 4(0)
Austria --- 3(+3)
Canada --- 3(0)
Japan --- 3(+1)
Switzerland --- 3(+1)
Denmark --- 2(+1)
New Zealand --- 2(0)
Spain ---  2(-1)
Belgium --- 1(0)
Argentina --- 1(0)
Basque --- 1(+1)
Dominica --- 1(0)
Estonia --- 1(0)
Finland --- 1(0)
Hong Kong --- 1(0)
Hungary --- 1(+1)
Israel --- 1(0)
Jamaica --- 0(-1)
Latvia --- 1(0)
Luxembourg --- 1(0)
Malaysia --- 0(-1)
Norway --- 0(-1)
Thailand --- 1(0)
Tibet --- 1(0)
Ukraine --- 1(0)
Wales --- 1(+1)
Unspecified --- 14(0)