Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Boardlive now - Satomi Kana vs Shimizu Ichiyo, 37th Joryu Meijini-sen

Today is the day for the first game of 37th Joryu Meijini-sen best-of-five match between Joryu Meijin Satomi Kana and Joryu 6-dan Shimizu Ichiyo. Shimizu became the challenger without any loss in the 37th challenger deciding round-robbin league. Last year, Satomi took the title from Shimizu and Shimizu has come back to the series to revenge. Since Shimiz has no crown right now, it draws peoples' attention to whether she can come back as a title holder or not.

The first game started at 9:00 at Izumo Bunka Densho Kan in Izumo city, Shimane prefecture.  The allotted thinking time per player is three hours. As a result of Furigoma, Satomi became Sente. You may replay and watch the game through the following link.

• Satomi vs Shimizu

In consideration of the allotted thinking time, the game is expected to end sometime between 4:00 and 5:30pm(Japan time). The official site in Japanese is here. And a chat environment with watching the streaming of latest move is available at 81-Dojo.

Researchers uncover neural origins of expert(Shogi Players) intuition

Here are the main links of captioned topic so far I collected.

• RIKEN | Press Release | 2011 | Researchers uncover neural origins of expert intuition

• The Neural Basis of Intuitive Beやst Next-Move Generation in Board Game Experts | Science/AAAS

• Master chess players use hidden brain parts: study | Reuters
• AFP: Chess experts use brain differently than amateurs
• Cosmic Log - How your brain picks the best move
• Experts' Brains Work Differently Than Amateurs' - US News and World Report

• Researches identify brain part that helps professional shogi players make optimal next move - The Mainichi Daily News

Shogi Boardlive today and tomorrow - Kubo vs Toyoshima, 2nd game of 60th Osho-sen

Today and tomorrow are the days for the second game of 60th Osho-sen best-of-seven match between Osho Kubo Toshiaki and Challenger 6-dan Toyoshima Masayuki. Kubo took the first game so the score before this game is 1-0 led by Kubo. Since Toyoshia was Sente in the first game, Kubo is Sente this time. The venue is at Ninomaru tea ceremony room of Kakegawa Castle in Shizuoka prefecture. The allotted thinking tiem per player is eight hours. It started at 9:00am today. Day 1 will be closed by the sealed move of the player who has a turn to play at 6:00pm today. Day 2 will start at 9:00am(Japan Time) on January 22. So the game is expected to end after 5:00pm tomorrow. You can watch and replay the game through the link below;

• Kubo vs Toyoshima

The official top page of 60th Osho-sen is here. Lots of photos related to this match is being uploaded on the official blog.

Streaming to 81-Dojo is not available today. I hope it will be back tomorrow. GPSshogi started to follow this game to show its readings and evaluation about each move.

Shogi Boardlive today - Saida Haruko vs Ishibashi Sachio, semi-final, 4th Mynavi Joshi Open

Today is the day for the semi-final game of 4th Mynavi Joshi Open between Joryu 4-dan Saida Haruko and Joryu 4-dan Ishibashi Sachio. It is being played at JSA building in Sendagaya, Tokyo from 10:00am. As a resiult of Furigoma, Ishibashi became Sente. The allotted thinking time is three hours per player so I think it will end after 5:00pm(Japan Time). You may watch and replay the game throught the link below;

• Ishibashi(Sente) vs Saida

And here are the links to the official website and blog of 4th Mynavi Joshi Open(in Japanese). Many photos related to this game will be uploaded on the blog.

A chat environment watching the virtual board of this game will be ready at 81-Dojo. I would be there from time to time, especially after 5:00pm. Please login there to watch it.

Boardlives today - three games of 4th Asahi Trophy Shogi open

The following games are on boardlive now.

• Ryuoh Watanabe Akira(Sente) vs 7-dan Hatakeyama Mamoru

• 2 crown Kubo Toshiaki vs 4-dan Murata Akihiro

The allotted thinking time per these games are 40 minutes per player. So it is expected to end within two hours from now.

The winners will compete each other from 2:00pm(in Japan).

• Winners' game

The chat envioronment is ready for some of these games today at 81-Dojo.

Boardlive today and tomorrow - Osho Kubo hand 6-dan Toyoshima, 1st game of 60th Osho-sen best of seven match

Today and tomorrow are the days for the first game of 60th Osho-sen between Osho Kubo Toshiaki and challenger 6-dan Toyoshima Masayuki. The venue of the game is at Otsuka Museum of Art in Tokushima prefecture.  Toyoshima has become the challenger for the first time.  As a result of Furigoma, Toyoshima became Sente for this game. It started at 9:00am in Japan. This is a 2-day game and today is Day1. Since the allotted thinking time per player is eight hours, it will end in the evening tomorrow(Japan time). You can replay and watch the game on the virtual board and  frequently updating photos of the both players through the link below;

• Toyoshima vs Kubo

Kubo seems to choose Gokigen Nakabisha.

The chat environment for this game is ready in 81-dojo. I expect many will come in the endgame of Day2.

Boardlive today - Ueda Hatsumi vs Yauchi Rieko, semi-final, 4th Mynavi Ladies open

Today is the day for the game of 4th Mynavi Ladies open between Joryu 4-dan Yauchi Rieko and Joryu 2-dan Ueda Hatsumi. It's a semi-final game of the knock down tournament to decide the challenger against Queen Kai Tomomi. As a result of Furigoma, Ueda became Sente. The allotted thinking time per player is three hours and it started at 10:00am(Japan Time) at JSA building in Sendagaya, Tokyo. So it will end around 5:00pm today. You can watch and replay the game through the following link;

• Ueda vs Yauchi

The official site of Mynavi Ladies Open is here(in Japanese).  The official blog with lots of photos to be uploaded is here.

The chat with watching the board is available in 81-Dojo. Please login there and watch the game betwen bot_Adam and bot_Eve.

Boardlive now - Hirose vs Watanabe, 36th Kio Challenger Deciding Match

Today is the day for 36th Kio Challenger Deciding Match between Ryuo Watanabe Akira and Oui Hirose Akihito. Watanabe took the first game. Since Hirose needs to win only one game to become the challenger as he did not lose any game in the preliminary tournament, the winner of this game will become the challenger against Kio Kubo Toshiaki. As a result of Furigoma, Hirose became Sente. The allotted thinking time per player is four hours so it will end after 7:00pm(Japan Time) since it started at 10:00am at JSA building in Sendagaya, Tokyo. You can replay and watch the game through the link below;

• Hirose vs Watanabe

The official site of 36th Kio-sen is here.  You may see lots of photos of this game uploading in the official blog.

The chat environment is ready in 81-Dojo. Please login there and watch there. I think I will be threre to chat about the game around 6:00pm when the position is expected to be critical. And hirohiigo will comment on the game as well in his Ustream Channel. I think he will  comment on the endgame.

Let's enjoy watching which young star will be entitled to compete with Kio Kubo Toshiaki.