Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

2nd game of 21st Ryuo-sen between Ryuo Watanabe and Challenger Meijin Habu started

Today and tomorrow are the days for the 2nd game of 21st Ryuo-sen 4-win match between Ryuo Watanabe and Challenger Meijin Habu. Habu is Sente Player. The game started at 9:00 am at Lake Toya Manseikaku in Hokkaido. Before the game, Habu led the score in 1-0. The winner of this series will take 32 million yen as prize money.

You may watch and replay the game through either of the links below;

Kifu for Flash | Kifu for Java

The official website and blow of the 21st Ryuo-sen are linked below;

Official Site | Ryuo-sen Plus(Official Blog)

Boardlive now - 4th game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen

Today is the day for the 4th game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen. The title is being competed in a three-win match. 2 crowns Shimizu Ichiyo challenges Joryu Oui Ishibashi Sachio at Hotel Clement Tokushima in Tokushima prefecture. Shimizu is Sente player in this game. You may watch or replay the game through the virtual board linked below.

4th game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen (Javascript used) | Kifu for Flash(Unofficial)

Playing room (Left = Ishiashi)| Board (These are to be updated frequently)

The game started at 9:00am in Japan. The thinking time per player is 4 hours and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it. I think it will end between 5:00 and 7:00pm.

Here is the link to the toppage of the 4th game. The left photo is Ishibashi.

http://www3.topics.or.jp/19joryu/

Shimizu won - 3rd game of 19th Joryu oui-sen

On October 22, the 3rd game of 19th Joryu oui-sen between Joryu Oui Ishibashi and Challenger Joryu 2 crowns Shimizu took place at Ito Iemon's mansion in Fukuoka prefecture. Ishibashi was Sente player and Shimizu beat Shimizu Ishibashi in 142 moves. They say Shimizu made a reversal in the endgame. The score after this game is 2-1 led by Ishibashi. Since this is 3-win match, Ishibashi needs one more victory to defend the title. The diagram below is the resignation one.

After the diagram, the possible variations would be as followings;.

Gx8d G-8h(!) K-8g G*8g(mate)

Gx8d G-8h(!) Kx8h +Rx6h G*7h B*7i K-8g G*8h Gx8h Bx8h+ (mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction)

Gx8d G-8h(!) Kx8h +Rx6h K-9g B*7i K-8g B-8h+(mate)

Gx8d G-8h(!) Kx8h +Rx6hK-8g B*6i K-9g G*8g(mate)

There might be more variations, but Sente was hopeless anyway. The 4th game will be held on October 29, 2008.

Boardlive now - 3rd game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen

Today is the day for the 3rd game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen. The title is being competed in a three-win match. 2 crowns Shimizu Ichiyo challenges Joryu Oui Ishibashi Sachio at Ito Denemon's house(in Japanese) in Fukuoka prefecture. Ishibashi is Sente player in this game. You may watch or replay the game through the virtual board linked below.

3rd game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen (Javascript used) | Kifu for Java(Unofficial)

Photo of Ishibashi | Photo of Shimizu | Board (These are to be updated frequently)

The game started at 9:00am in Japan. The thinking time per player is 4 hours and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it. I think it will end between 5:00 and 7:00pm.

Here is the link to the toppage of the 3rd game. The left in the photo is Challenger Shimizu and the right is Joryu oui Ishibashi.

http://event.nishinippon.co.jp/shogi/joui/19joui/

Habu took the first game - 21st Ryuo-sen 4-win match

On October 18 & 19 in Paris, the 1st game of the 21st Ryuo-sen 4-win match between Ryuo Watanabe Akira and Challenger Meijin Habu took place in Le Meridien Etoile . As a result of Furigoma, Watanabe became Sente player. The opening strategy is Gote's Itteson Kakugawari(Bishop exchange with Gote's one tempo delay). Watanabe built Anaguma castle on his left side while Habu adopted Migigyoku(Right King) strategy. The game was ended with Habu's victory in 92 moves. The diagram below is when Watanabe resigned just after Habu dropped his Gold on 7h. At the the resignation diagram, only 5 pieces on the board were left unmoved such as the lances on 9a, 1a and 1i and the pawns on 8g and 5g.

Sente's King would be mated in any way. Some possible variations after G*7h would be

1. K-9i S*8h(mate)
2. Kx7h Px6g+ K-8h G*7h K-9i S*8h(mate)
3. Kx7h Px6g+ Kx6g N*5e K-7h S*7g K-8i G*8h(mate)
4. Kx7h Px6g+ Kx6g N*5e K-5h S*4g K-6i G*6h(mate)
5. Kx7h Px6g+ Kx6g N*5e K-6f P*6e Kx6e G-6d K-6f G*6e(mate)
6. Kx7h Px6g+ Kx6g N*5e K-6f P*6e Kx6e G-6d K-5f S*6e K-4f G*4g(mate, replayable clicking the arrow in the right direction below the diagram)
7. Kx7h Px6g+ Kx6g N*5e K-6f P*6e K-7f G*7e(mate)
8. Kx7h Px6g+ Kx6g N*5e K-6f P*6e K-5f S*6g K-4f G*4g(mate)
9. Kx7h Px6g+ Kx6g N*5e K-6f P*6e K-5f S*6g Kx6e G-6d K-6f G*6e(mate)

They say this is one of Habu's masterpieces. Habu led the score in 1-0. The second game will be held on October 30 & 31.

1st game of 21st Ryuo-sen between Ryuo Watanabe and Challenger Meijin Habu started

Today and tomorrow are the days for the 1st game of 21st Ryuo-sen 4-win match between Ryuo Watanabe and Challenger Meijin Habu. As a result of Furigoma, Watanabe became Sente Player. The game started at 9:00 am in the suite room of Le Meridien Etoile in Paris, France. The winner of this series will take 32 million yen as prize money.

You may watch and replay the game through either of the links below;

Kifu for Flash | Kifu for Java

The official website and blow of the 21st Ryuo-sen are linked below;

Official Site | Ryuo-sen Plus(Official Blog)

Ishibashi beat Shimizu again, 2nd game of 19th Joryu oui-sen

On October 16, the 2nd game of 19th Joryu oui-sen between Joryu Oui Ishibashi and Challenger Joryu Meijin 2 crowns Shimizu was held. Shimizu was Sente player and Ishibashi beat Shimizu in 180 moves. Since this is 3-win match, Ishibashi needs one more victorhy to defend the title. The diagram below is the resignation one.

After the diagram, the possible variations would be as followings;.

Bx9a+ Gx8i Kx8i R*7i(mate)

N*7e Gx8i Kx8i S*7h(!) Kx7h N*6f Kx6i G*7h K-5i R*5h(mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction).

There might be more variations, but Sente was hopeless anyway. The 3rd game will be held on October 22, 2008.

Ishibashi took 1st game of 19th Joryu oui-sen

On October 10, the 1st game of 19th Joryu oui-sen was held. As a result of Furigoma, Ishibashi became Sente player and she took the game in 89 moves. The diagram below is the resignation one.

After the diagram, the follwoing variation would be expected.

K-1b +N-2c(mate)

Rx3b Gx3b K-1b Gx2b K-1c Gx2c K-1d G-2d(mate)

Rx3b Gx3b K-1b Gx2b Sx2b R*1d S-1c B*2a(mate, replayable by clicking the arrow in the right direction).

Boardlive today - 2nd game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen

Today is the day for the 2nd game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen. The title is being competed in a three-win match. Shimizu Ichiyo challenges Joryu Oui Ishibashi Sachio at Takinoya(in Japanese) in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido. Shimizu is Sente player in this game. You may watch or replay the game through the virtual board linked below.

1st game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen (Javascript used) | Kifu for Flash

Photo of Ishibashi | Photo of Shimizu | Both Players | Board (These are to be updated frequently)

The game started at 9:00am in Japan. The thinking time per player is 4 hours and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it. I think it will end between 5:00 and 7:00pm.

Here is the link to the toppage of the 2nd game. The left in the photo is Challenger Shimizu and the right is Joryu oui Ishibashi.

http://www5.hokkaido-np.co.jp/19joryu/

Boardlive today - 1st game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen

Today is the day for the 1st game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen. The title is being competed in a three-win match. Ishibashi Sachio Shimizu Ichiyo challenges Joryu Oui Shimizu Ichiyo Ishibashi Sachio at Egre Himeji(in Japanese) in Hyogo prefecture. As a result of Furigoma, Ishibashi became Sente player. You may watch or replay the game through the virtual board linked below.

1st game of 19th Joryu Oui-sen (Javascript used)

Photo of Ishibashi | Photo of Shimizu(These are to be updated frequently)

The game started at 9:00am in Japan. The thinking time per player is 4 hours and less than 60 seconds per move after consuming it. I think it will end between 5:00 and 7:00pm.

Here is the link to the toppage of the 1st game. The left photo is Challenger Ishibashi and the right is Joryu Oui Shimizu.

http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/19joryu/