Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Shogi Boardlives Today

Today the following games are available to watch on board-live.

• Miyamoto Hiroshi(Shoreikai 3-dan)  vs Funae kohei(4-dan) --- started at 9:00am(JST)
• Funae vs Miyamoto --- started at 2:00pm(JST)
• Hasegawa Yuki vs Kai Tomomi(Joryu Oui) --- to be started at 10:00am(JST)

The first one is the second game of best of three match of the first Kakogawa Seiryuu-sen. Miyamoto is Sente. He led the score in 1-0. If Funae wins the game, the third game will be competed from 2:00pm today. The lower one is a game of 5th Mynavi Joshi Open. Who will play first is to be decided by Furigoma just before the start of the game.

Funae Kouhei vs Miyamoto Hiroshi - Shogi Boardlive Today - 1st Kakogawa Seiryu Sen

Today is the day for the fist game of the first Kakogowa Seiyuu-sen best of three match. It's a new tourney that has started since this year. Only 4-dan and Shoreikai 3-dan, and selected two female players are qualified to enter the tournament which gives a spotlight on relatively young players. Surprisingly, there have been lots of cases that Shoreikai 3-dan beat 4-dan players! The finalists are 4-dan Funae Kouhei and Shoreikai 3-dan Miyamoto Hiroshi. Both of them defeated three oponents to come to the final stage in the knock-down tree.

As a result of Furigoma, Funae became Sente. The venue is at JSA buiding in Osaka. Since the allotted thinking time per player is one hour and it started at 10:00am(JST). I think it will end around 0:00pm(JST). You can replay or watch the game on the official live-board at

• Funae vs Miyamoto

Here is the official site of Kakogawa Seiryu sen. A chat envirionment with watching a slightly-deferred-liveboard is ready at 81dojo.

Maruyama vs Watanabe - Shogi Boardlive Today - Day 2 of 2nd game of 24th Ryuo-sen

Today is Day 2 of the second game of the 24th Ryuo-sen best of seven game between Ryuo Watanabe Akira and 9-dan Maruyama Tadahisa. Watanabe took the first game. Maruyama is Sente. The opening strategy is Kakugawari Koshikakegin(Bishop Exchange and Reclning Silver). Watanabe moved up his left Silver to 3c early at the 22nd move without waiting for Maruyama's Rook pawn came to 2e. And he advanced the vanguard pawn on the 6th file at the 26th move with still keeping his King on the original square which prevented Maruyama from doing the same on the 4th file since Gote could transfer his Rook to 4b to make a quick counter attack there by pushing P-4d if he advaned the Pawn to 4e.

Watanabe's formation is exclusively defense-oriented as he did not push the Pawn on the 7th file to 7d which would not allow his right kNight to jump ahead to 7c. So the theme in this game now is whether Maruyama's attack will be able to continue till the end or run out. Sente tried to sacrifice his Pawns on the right edge and 3rd files to make him possible to drop pawns there on Day 1. The sealed move was revealed at 9:00am today and it was Sx3e, taking the Pawn by Gote's left Silver. You can replay or watch the game on the official live-board at;

• Maruyama vs Watanabe

Here is the official site of the 24th Ryuo-sen. Since the allotted thinking time per player is eight hours and this is a two-day game, I think it will end this evening. Unlike the first game, I hope this will be really a close game to be excited at. A chat environment with watching a slightly-deferred-live-board is ready at 81dojo.

 

 

Toyoshima Masayuki vs Sato Amahiko - Shogi Boardlive Today - Final of 42nd Rookie of the Year

Today is the day when the fianl (third) game of the forty second Rookie of the Year tourney is being held between 6-dan Toyoshima Masayuki and 6-dan Sato Amahiko. The venue is at Japan Shogi Association's building in Sendagaya, Tokyo. Before the game, the score is tied in 1-1. The winner of this game will be the Rookie of the year. Since this is the last chance for the both players to be the best Rookie since they will lose the permission to enter it in the next term due to promoting to 6-dan already. So they must want to be the winner to graduate it with honor. Let's see who will be the one.

The opening was likely to go to Yokofutori.  But Toyoshima, who got Sente as a result of Furigoma, did not pick up the Side Pawn and retrieve his Rook back to 2f. Sato drew his Rook back to its original square of 8b. It surprized me that Toyoshima moved his Rook to 3f to threaten to take the Pawn on 3d vertically after he dropped a defensive pawn on his Bishop's head of 8g. It is different from Hineribisha(Twisting Rook) where Sente moved his Rook to the 3rd, and then 7th or 8th files without dropping a Pawn on 8g.  In fact, there is no precedent at the position of the 26th move of K-4b. It seems that they are trying to decide which will be a instinctively tougher fighter in an untapped field on this particular opportunity, rather than following to one of the paved roads of Joseki which they can study in advance at home to fairly deep extent.

You can replay and watch the game through the official live-board at

•  Toyoshima vs Sato

Since the allotted thinking time is three hours per player and it started at 10:00am(JST), the game will end after 4:00pm(JST). Here is the official site of the Rookie of the Year Tourney. And a chat environment is with watching a slightly-deferred-live-board is ready at 81dojo.

Shimizu Ichiyo vs Kato Momoko - Shogi Boardlive Now and Nico Nico Douga Live - 1st game of 1st Ricoh Cup Joryu Ouza-sen

Today is the day for the first game of the first Ricoh Cup Joryu Ouza-sen between Joryu 6-dan Shimizu Ichiyo and Shoreikai 1kyu Kato Momoko.  Joryu Ouza-sen is the first tournament which is open not only to lady professionals but also to female shoreikai players and amateurs. Since the tournament is in its first term, there has been no Joryu Title holder yet. The two finalists comes on the stage by beating their competiters in the knock-down tournament starting from this April. Kato defeated five players like Watanabe Mio, Ohba Miki, Chiba Ryoko, Iwane Shinobu and Ito Sae  while Shimizu won four games against Ishidaka Sumie, Matsuo Kaori, Ueda Hatsumi and Nakamura Marika to come to the this best of five match to decide the first Joryu Ouza. Let's enjoy seeing the historic opportunity that will show who is stronger, a lady professional Shimizu or a female Shoreikai player Kato. The winner of the match will get the prize money amounted to five million yen.

The game started at 10:00am at Hotel New Otani in Tokyo. As a result of Furigoma, Shimizu became Sente. Shimizu's first move was P-2f, advancing her Rook Pawn. Kato's response was P-8d. Since Shimizu is considered to be very good at Aigakari(Dobule Wing) Opening even by male professionals, Kato's magnificent choice to accept to go for that Opening drew spectators' attention. The allotted thinking time per player is three hours. I think it will end after 4:00pm(Japan time) today.

You can replay and watch the game through the following official liveboard;

• Shimizu vs Kato

Here is the official website of the first Ricoh Cup Joryu Ouza-sen renewed recently. And a chat environment with watching a slightly-deferred-liveboard is ready at 81Dojo.

In addition, this game's live commentary by 7-dan Sanada Keiichi is on live at Nico Nico Douga. Although it's in Japanese and you need to be a free menber of the video sharing application to see it, watching the possible moves Sanada is showing on the display board will be interesting.

Saida vs Chiba, Shogi boardlive today, 5th Mynavi Joshi Open

Today is the day for the game between Saida Haruko and Chiba Ryoko of the 5th Mynavi Joshi Open. The winner of this game will be the last semi-finalist following to Kai Tomomi, Hasegawa Yuki, Yamaguchi Eriko, Satomi Kana, Kato Momoko, Nakai Hiroe and Shimizu Ichiyo. As a result of Furigoma, Saida became Sente. As many predicted, the opening is Saida's central Rook and Chiba's static Rook. The game started at 10:00am and the allotted thinking time per player is three hours. So I think this will end after 4:00pm today. You can replay and watch the game  at

• Saida vs Chiba

Here is the official site of the 5th Mynavi Joshi Open. A chat environment with watching a slightly-deferred-liveboard is ready at 81dojo.

Watanabe vs Maruyama - Shogi Boardlive Today & Tomorrow - 1st game of 24th Ryuo-sen

Today and tomorrow are the days when the first game occurs between Ryuo Watanabe Akira and 9-dan Maruyama Tadahisa as the 24th Ryuo-sen best-of-seven match. You may not know about who Maruyama is well, but he used be have two consecutive terms of Meijin in 2000 and 2001 that made him promoted to 9-dan. He had been a Kio for one term as well. And he has been competing in A-Juni-sen since 1997 except for his holding the Meijin title for two terms. Up to this game, the score between the both players is tied in 5-5. So I hope this match will be decided in a close score as they performed in the past.

The game started at 9:00am at Takinoyu Hotel in Tendo City where the International Shogi Festival 2008 was held. As a result of Furigoma, Watanabe has become Sente. The opening of the first game Maruyama chose is Itteson Kakugawari(Bishop exchange losing a tempo). He showed his novelty at the 28th move of N-3c.

You can watch and replay the game on the official liveboard linked at;

• Watanabe vs Maruyama

Here is the link to the official site of the 24th Ryuo-sen. The allotted thinking time per player is eight hours. Today is Day 1 and the game will be suspended at 6:00pm. The player who has turn to play then will make a sealed move. Day 2 will restart at 9:00am tomorrow. And I think the game will end tomorrow evening, probably after 7:00pm. A chat environment with watching a slightly-deferred-liveboard is ready at 81dojo.

Shogi Boardlive Today - Toyoshima Masayuki vs Sato Amahiko, 42nd Rookie of the year tournamnet

Today is the day when the second game of the best of three match of the 42nd Rookie of the year tournament between 6-dan Toyoshima Masayuki and 6-dan Sato Amahiko. Toyoshima took the first game so if he won this game, he would be a new Rookie of the year. So Sato would like to take back it to tie the score into 1-1. Toyoshima is Sente for this game. The game started at 10:00am(JST) today and they chose Yokofutori as the Opening. Sato started into hostilities on the right edge before lunch time. Since the allotted thinking time per player is three hours, I think the game will end after 4:00pm. You can replay and watch it on the official live-board at;

• Toyoshima vs Sato

Here is the official site of the 42nd Rookie of the year tournament. A chat environment with watching a slightly-deferred-live-board  is ready at 81dojo.

Another Shogi Boardlive today - Kato Momoko vs Shimai Saori, 5th Mynavi Shogi Open

Today is the day when a 5th Mynavi Joshi Open game is held between Shoreikai 1kyu Kato Momoko and Joryu Shodan Shimai Saori. The game started at 10:00am(JST) at JSA building in Sendagaya, Tokyo. As a result of Furigoma, Kato became Sente. The opening Shimai chose was Shikenbisha blocking the Bishop's diagonal which becomes rare these days. Kato exchanged the pawns on the 3rd file with he Bishop in an early stage before completing her castle. The allotted thinking time per player is three hours so it will end after 4:00pm, I think. You can watch and replay the game through the official live-board at

• Kato vs Shimai

Here is the link to the official 5th Mynavi Joshi Open site.  A chat ennvronment with watching a slightly-deferred-live-board is ready at 81dojo.

Shogi Boardlive Today - Sato Amahiko vs Toyoshima Masayuki, Final, best of three match of 42nd Rookie of the year Tournament

Today is the day for the first game of the final best of three match of the 42nd Rookie of the Tourament. The tourney is a knock-down to be competed among the players who are 4-dan or 5-dan and under 27 at the time of Octorber 1 last year. In addition, Some of the top shoreikai-3 dan league players takes part. Both players beat four players to come to the final. This term is their final entry as they became 6-dan after it started.

The game started at 10:05, 5 minutes later than the regular start time due to Sato's delay in coming to the venue, JSA building in Sendagaya, Tokyo. As a result of Furigoma, Sato became Sente. The allotted thinking time per player is three hours. So I think it will end after 4:00pm(JST) today. You can replay and watch the game at the official live-board through the link below;

• Sato vs Toyoshima

Here is the official website of the Rookie of the year tournament called "Shinjin Oh-sen". A chat environment with watching a slightly-deferred-live-board is also ready at 81dojo.