I started with your code and began removing stuff. Then I made it fit with use strict and -w and added a few obfuscation tricks of my own. This weighs in at 182 chars, 185 if you count the 3 newlines. 
$"='ox'x5,$_="1 2 3\n4 5 6\n7 8 9 ";{$^=chop$";print"
$_$^ =>";{<>=~/^(\d)$/i&&s/$1/$^/m or redo}(m/^($^.){
3}|($^.{5}){2}$^|$^.{7}$^.{7}$^|^.(...$^){3}/smx|$.>8
)or redo}y/0-9/-/;print

[download]
Tested with ActiveState 5.6

And yes, I like the chop.

Update: I noticed a small bug, this fix cost me 3 chars. sigh. That puts me at 185 chars (188 with the newlines) 

$"='ox'x5,$_="1 2 3\n4 5 6\n7 8 9 ";{$^=chop$";print"
$_$^ =>";{<>=~/^(\d)$/i&&s/$1/$^/m or$.--&&redo}/^($^
.){3}|($^.{5}){2}$^|$^.{7}$^.{7}$^|^.(...$^){3}/smx|8
<$. or redo}y/0-9/-/;print

[download]

In reply to RE: Tic Tac Chop by Adam
in thread Tic Tac Chop by turnstep

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