Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Shogi Boardlive today - Shimizu Ichiyo vs Muroya Yuki, Challenger Deciding Match, 19th Kurashiki Tohka-sen

Today is the day for the challenger deciding match between Joryu 6-dan Shimizu Ichiyo and Joryu Shodan Muroya Yuki. Muroya has become a Joryu professional player since 2009 and this is the first time for her to have a big chance to challenge a major title. Her lifetime winning percentage to date was .667, (24-12). She is thought to be a title holder in the near future. Shimizu's lifetime performance to date was .727, (500-188). Although she does not have any title at present, she is doing very well this fiscal year with .852(23-4). Let's see who will be the challenger against Tohka Satomi Kana.

The game started at 10:00am at JSA building in Sendagaya, Tokyo. The allotted thinking time per player is two hours, so I think it will end after 2:00pm(Japan time). The opening is Shimizu's Ibisha and Muroya's Gokigen Nakbisha as many expected. You can watch and replay it at the official live-board through the following link;

• Shimizu vs Muroya

Here is the official site of the 19th Kurashiki Tohka-sen. A chat environment with watching its live-baord is ready at 81dojo.

Shogi Boardlive today - Yauchi RIeko vs Satomi Kana, 5th Mynavi Joshi Open

Today is the day for the game between Joryu 4-dan Yauchi Rieko and double crown Satomi Kana. The game started at 10:00am. As a result of Furigoma, Yauchi became Sente. The allotted thinking time per player is three hours. So I think it will end after 4:00pm. You can replay and watch the game on the official liveboard at;

• Yauchi vs Satomi

Here is the official site of Mynavi Joshi Open. A chat environemnt with watching a slightly-deferred-liveboard is ready at 81dojo.

Boardlive today - Habu vs Watanabe, 3d game of 59th Ouza-sen

Today is the day for the third game of 59th Ouza-sen best of five match between Ouza Habu Yoshiharu and Challenger Ryuo Watanabe Akira. The game started at 9:00 at Shouhakutei-AZUMASOU in Tendo City, Yamagata prefecture. Before the game, Watanabe took two games in a row. Habu cannot lose any more game to defend the title and to achieve 20 consecutive holding the title in Ouza-sen. Watanabe is Sente for this game. The opening they chose is Yokofutori. Habu retrieved his Rook to 8d instead of 8e. And it got certain Watanabe would be able to make Tokin at the 37th move even though the move was made in the morning yet. It is highly likely that the fierce battle will start soon after lunch time is over at 1:00pm. The allotted thinking time per player is five hours so I think it will end after 9:00pm(Japan time). You can watch and replay the game at

• Watanabe(Sente) vs Habu

Here is the official site of the 59th Ouza-sen. And a chat environment with a slightly-dererred-liveboard is ready at 81Dojo.

Evening Edition of Yomiuri Shimbun covered ESC/WOSC 2011

Yomiuri Shimbun, which is a Japanese Newspaper Publisher having the largest and nationwide  circulation in Japan, covered ESC/WOSC 2011 in its evening edition of August 30. Here is the link to the image of the article given by Dr. René Gralla.

• The image of the article(jpg file format)

And the translation of the article is ongoing at 81 square universe forum.

• The 81-Square Universe • View topic - I need a translator

According to YOMIURI SHIMBUN MEDIA KIT, the circulation of its evening edition is 3,516,692.

Shogi Boardlives Today - Semi Finals of 1st Ricoh Cup Joryu Ouza-sen

The first Ricoh Cup Joryu Ouza-sen is getting closer to the final stage. Today is the day for the semi-finals. The following two games are available to watch and replay. The games started at 10:00am(Japan Time). The allotted thinking time per player is three hours. So I think it will end after 3:00pm.

• Joryu 6-dan Shimizu Ichiyo vs Joryu 2dan Nakamura Marika
• Shoreikai 1-kyu Kato Momoko vs Shoreikai 1 kyu Ito Sae

Here is the link to the official site of the 1st Ricoh Cup Joryu Ouza-sen(in Japanese).

Shogi Boardlive Today - Habu vs Watanabe, 2nd game of 59th Ouza-sen

Today is the day for the second game of the 59th Ouza-sen between Ouza Habu Yoshiharu  and Ryuo Watanabe Akira. The game started at 9:00am with Habu's Sente at The Westin Miyako in Kyoto City. Before the game, Watanabe took the first game. So Habu would like to tie the score to win this game. The opening went to Aigakari. Habu's bold way of allowing Watanabe to gain a kNight surprised us a lot. You can watch and replay the game on the virtual liveboard through the following link.

• Habu vs Watanabe

Since the allotted thinking time per player is five hours, I think the game will end after 9:00pm today. Here  is the official Ouza-sen site(in Japanese). If you a member of NICO NICO DOUGA and can listen to Japanese, Meijin Moriuchi's live commentary is available to watch here.

A chat environment with watching a slightly-deferred-liveboard is ready at 81Dojo.

Shogi Boardlive Today and Tomorrow - Hirose vs Habu, 7th game of 52nd Oui-sen

Today and tomorrow are the days for the seventh(final) game of the 52nd Oui-sen best-of-five match between Oui Hirose Akihito and Challenger two crown Habu Yoshiharu. Before the game, the score is tied in 3-3. So the winner of this game will be the next Oui-holder.  As a result of Furigoma, Hirose became Sente. Day 1 of the game started at 9:00am at Jinya in Kanagawa prefecture. Hirose blocked his Bishop diagonal at the thrid move and Habu advanced hir Rook pawn to 8d at the 4th move, which showed that he had no intention to choose double ranging Rook in this game. In this way, the opening of this game become Hirose's Shikenbisha with Anaguma vs Habu's static Rook with Anaguma. Since Hirose is considerd what I call a real genius in games with double Anaguma, Habu's tempting  Hirose to this opening is very impressive in the final game of the match. You can watch and replay the game through the official liveboard through the link below;

• Hirose vs Habu

Here is the official website of the 52nd Oui-sen. Day 1 will end at around 6:00pm. The player who has turn to play at that time will seal his next move to close the day. Day 2 will start at 9:00am tomorrow(Japan time). The allotted thinking time per plahyer is eight hours, so it will end in the evening of Day 2 tomorrow.

Shogi Boardlive Today - Kubo vs Maruyama, 3rd(final) Game of Ryuo Challenger Deciding Match

Today is the day for the third game of the 24th Ryuo-sen challenger deciding best of three match between two crown Kubo Toshiaki and 9-dan Maruyama Tadahisa. Before the game, the score is tied in 1-1. As a result of Furigoma, Kubo became Sente. The winner of this game will be a chcallenger against Ryuo Watanabe Akira. The game started at 10:10 am. Maruyama allowed Kubo to choose Ishida-style Sangenbisha(Thirdfile Rook). Maruyama did not follow the three precedents at the 34th move. They were all 34.Bx7g+ instead of Maruyama's Px6e. It's a cutting edge position between static rook and Ishida-style. You can watch and replay the official liveboard through the following link.

• Kubo vs Maruyama

Since the allotted thinking time per player is five hours, I think it will end after 10:00pm today.

Here is the official website of the 24th Ryuo-sen. A chat environment with watching a slightly-deferred-liveboard is ready at 81dojo.

Shogi Boardlive today - Habu vs Watanabe, 1st game of 59th Ouza-sen best-of-five match

Today is the day for the game between Ouza Habu Yoshiharu and Ryuo Watanabe Akira. It's the first game of the 59th Ouza-sen best-of-five match at Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo. Habu's twenty consecutive wins are at stake in this series. Watanabe's challenge to take the Ouza title  is the second time since he did last time in 2003. As a result of Furigoma, Watanabe became Sente. To my little surprise, Habu advanced his Rook pawn to 8d at the second move which offered Watanabe to choose Yagura of Kakugawari(Bishop Exchange) opening, since recently the identical position of Bishop Exchange Reclining Silver is conside.red Sente's favor among professionoal players. Naturally Watanabe chose Bishop Exchange, but he did not let it go to the identical position. Intersting! In spite that the allotted thinking time per player is five hours, they play very quickly in the opening and fifty moves were already made withing one hour from the start of the game.

You can watch and replay the game through the following link. I think the game will end after 8:00pm(Japan time).

• Watanabe(Sente) vs Habu

Here is the official site of the 59th Ouza-sen(in Japanese). And you can see lots of photos of this game to be updloaded frequently in the official blog. A chat environment with watching a slightly-deferred-liveboard is ready at 81dojo.

Boardlive Now - Habu Yoshiharu vs Sato Yasumitsu, Final of Tatsujin-sen

The following boadlive is available to watch now. It is the final of the 19th Tatsujin-sen. The game started just now.  Sato became Sente as a result of Furigoma. The allotted thinking time per player is fifteen minutes, so I think it will end within one hour from the start.

• Habu vs Sato

Here are the official site of the 19th Tatsujin-sen and the official blog. For  Japanese speakers, Nico Nico Douga is airing a live of commentary show of this game.

A chat environment with watching a slightly-deferred-liveboard is ready at 81dojo.