(
;
GM[1]
VW[]
FF[1]
DT[December 25, 1973]
SZ[19]
PB[Sakata Eio]
PW[Kato Masao]
C[ 21st Annual Nihon Kiin Championship, Title Match
 Played between Dec. 25, 1973 and Feb. 13, 1974
 Sakata Eio, Nihon Kiin Champion v. Kato Masao 8 dan ]
GN[n731]
EV[21st Annual Nihon Kiin Championship, Title Match]
;
B[pd]
C[ Game 1
 
 W: Kato \(K\)
 
 B: Sakata \(S\)
 
 Played on Dec. 25-26, 1973 at the Nihon Kiin.
 
 188 moves. W wins by resignation. Commentary based on a KIDO report ]
;
W[dp]
C[ "Welcome! The Killer of Go!"
 
 The last chapter of "Killer of Go" offers unusual advice. Its title is the
 same as the one above, and the idea is espoused that when one plays go, one
 should welcome a "killer" with open arms. If the "killer" is an imposter, a
 "sheep in wolf's clothing" rather than a full-fledged terror on the go
 board, one can look forward to an easy game when the "killer" makes
 overplays... ]
;
B[qp]
C[ ...but if the "killer" genuinely possesses a deadly touch, so much the
 better. In that case, one has found a touchstone to measure one's own
 strength against and should treasure any opportunity to test one's mettle.
 \(Young Japanese go players will often express gratitude at being able to
 "borrow the chest" of an experienced player, using a term from Sumo
 wrestling. Even if one loses, the encountere itself is invaluable.\) ]
;
W[dc]
C[ In this match, Sakata's proposition was to be put to a rigorous test. His
 opponent, "Killer Kato", was a Young Turk, eager to win his first title, and
 gifted with deadly instincts. \(His record the previous 12 months was 35 wins
 & 11 losses -- a .761 success rate.\) The question was whether the
 irresistible force, Kato, who seemed to slaughter stones at will, would
 defeat the immoveable object, Sakata, the master of defense.   -- Bob Terry ]
;
B[de]
;
W[di]
C[ The pincer of W6 was a favorite move of Kato's for a long time.]
;
B[oq]
;
W[fd]
;
B[cc]
;
W[cb]
;
B[cd]
;
W[bb]
;
B[dg]
;
W[qk]
;
B[fq]
;
W[dn]
;
B[dr]
;
W[cq]
;
B[iq]
;
W[qn]
;
B[qi]
;
W[nc]
;
B[pf]
;
W[pb]
;
B[qc]
;
W[kc]
;
B[jd]
;
W[kd]
;
B[je]
;
W[ib]
;
B[hd]
;
W[ff]
;
B[fg]
;
W[gf]
;
B[ke]
;
W[ef]
C[ W attacks w/ W36 & W38, and then... ]
;
B[eg]
;
W[fi]
;
B[gg]
;
W[hg]
C[ ...uncompromisingly cutting w/ W40 &... ]
;
B[hh]
;
W[gh]
C[ ...W42 is K's style. ]
;
B[ci]
;
W[cj]
;
B[hf]
;
W[ig]
;
B[bi]
;
W[bj]
;
B[hi]
;
W[he]
;
B[if]
;
W[jg]
;
B[ei]
C[ However, S skillfully deals with the situation \[shinogi\] w/ the clever wedge
 of B53. This results in... ]
;
W[ej]
;
B[dh]
;
W[dj]
;
B[gi]
;
W[fj]
;
B[ec]
;
W[ed]
;
B[dd]
;
W[db]
;
B[gc]
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W[fc]
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B[fb]
C[ \(Capturing at B "a" was also a good move, instead of B65.\) ]
LB [fh]
;
W[eb]
C[ ...a reasonable resolution up to W66. ]
;
B[ji]
C[ B67 was the sealed move ending the first day's play.]
;
W[kh]

(
;
B[me]
C[ S regretted B69, grumbling that he could never get his rhythm going in the
 morning. The vital point was at "a".]
;
W[ki]
C[ After W blocks at the vital point with W70...]
;
B[jk]
;
W[jj]
;
B[ij]
;
W[kj]
;
B[il]
;
W[hk]
;
B[ik]
;
W[ll]
C[ ...through W78, W builds a comfortable position in the center. This slows
 the pace of the game. \[Which is favorable for W.\]]
;
B[jn]
;
W[oi]
C[ S criticized W80 as being an overplay, suggesting that strengthening the
 center with an attachment at W "a" is usual. However, going as far as
 possible into the opponent's position is K's style. One may be apprehensive
 about B pushing through with a diagonal move at B "b", but K's stance is to
 fight that head on.]
LB [pj]
(
;
B[hb]
C[ B should have played B81 at B "a". The reason B played B81 and the following
 was with the intention of playing forcing moves \(kikashi\) and then taking
 sente to play at B "b".]
LB [pj]
;
W[ic]
;
B[jc]
;
W[jb]
;
B[id]
;
W[fa]
;
B[gb]
;
W[bg]
;
B[cg]
;
W[bf]

(
;
B[bd]
C[ S's big failure here was to miss the chance to take sente, which is very
 valuable at this time. B91 was the culprit. B should have played at B "a"
 here.]
;
W[fh]
;
B[aj]
;
W[ak]
;
B[ai]
;
W[df]
;
B[cf]
;
W[bl]
;
B[bh]
C[ Even if B plays B99 in some other way, W still gets forcing moves at W "a" &
 "b", meaning that W will take sente here.]
LB [ee]
;
W[af]
C[ The life and death situation in the upper left corner is exceedingly
 complicated, but up to...]
;
B[ac]
;
W[ah]
;
B[ch]
;
W[eh]
;
B[ce]
;
W[ab]
;
B[ae]
;
W[ee]
;
B[ge]
;
W[ea]
;
B[bc]
C[ ...B111, B played the correct sequence. It was nighttime on the second day
 of play, and S looked exhausted. Or perhaps it was the failure to take sente
 that exhausted him.]
;
W[md]
;
B[ne]
;
W[qh]
C[ The attachment of W114 forestalls B's diagonal move at B "a", pushing out.
 With this move, K seems to have established the win. If B answers W114 with
 a move at B "b", W cuts at W "c" and squeezes. \[With the sequence: B "d", W
 "e", B "f", W "g", B "h" & W "i".\]]
LB [pj]
;
B[rh]
C[ B did not like that prospect, so after B115 &...]
;
W[qg]
;
B[rg]
C[ ...B117, B counterattacks with...]
;
W[qf]
;
B[pi]
C[ ...B119 &...]
;
W[og]
;
B[oh]
C[ ...B121. This shows fighting spirit, but it only widened the margin of
 defeat. No doubt it was better to accept the squeeze at B115, hunker down
 and wait for an opportunity.]
;
W[nh]
;
B[ph]
;
W[mg]
;
B[pg]
;
W[le]
;
B[lf]
;
W[ld]
;
B[kg]
;
W[jf]
;
B[jh]
;
W[ie]
;
B[mf]
;
W[kf]
;
B[lg]
C[ The moves to B135 comprise a kind of an exchange \(furi-kawari\), but it is
 obvious that B comes out on the short end of the deal. \[And "Killer Kato"
 has nailed another big group of stones.\]]
;
W[ok]
C[ B's last hope is to attack the W group on the right side, but K plays
 solidly and conservatively to frustrate that possibility.]
;
B[oj]
;
W[nk]
;
B[ln]
;
W[oo]
;
B[np]
;
W[mi]
;
B[eo]
;
W[km]
;
B[kn]
;
W[gn]
;
B[ho]
;
W[go]
;
B[ep]
;
W[en]
;
B[cr]
;
W[hn]
;
B[in]
;
W[hp]
;
B[hq]
;
W[nn]
;
B[ro]
;
W[mo]
;
B[lp]
;
W[rn]
;
B[do]
;
W[co]
;
B[cn]
;
W[bn]
;
B[qb]
;
W[io]
;
B[jo]
;
W[br]
;
B[bp]
;
W[cp]
;
B[bq]
;
W[ar]
;
B[pp]
;
W[hl]
;
B[rj]
;
W[rk]
;
B[mm]
;
W[nm]
;
B[ml]
;
W[mk]
;
B[ob]
;
W[oc]
;
B[pc]
;
W[nb]
;
B[pa]
;
W[bo]
;
B[na]
;
W[lb]
C[ 188 moves. W wins by resignation.
 
 At this point W is ahead by 5 pts. on the board. S resigned at 8:30 PM, a
 comparatively early finish to a title game. "Killer Kato" had shown how
 dangerous he could be in racking up the first win in the match.])

(
;
B[fh]
C[   B had to capture at B1.]
;
W[df]
;
B[cf]
;
W[be]
;
B[ce]
;
W[bd]
C[   W takes the profit in the corner, but B gets the invaluable chance to take
   sente.])
)

(
;
B[jc]
C[   It was best to fix the shape here directly with B1 and the rest up to...]
;
W[jb]
;
B[mc]
;
W[mb]
;
B[md]
;
W[lb]
;
B[oc]
;
W[ob]
;
B[nd]
;
W[nb]
;
B[pj]
C[   ...B11, leading to a position that is easy for B to play.])
)

(
;
B[ki]
C[   B controls the balance of power in the center by occupying the point of
   B1. Up to...]
;
W[li]
;
B[me]
;
W[mg]
;
B[lj]
;
W[mi]
C[   ...W6, B has taken the initiative in the center.])
)