Chess body optimistic over televised duel<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chess Association is optimistic
\nthat it will strike a deal with a private television station in
\ntwo weeks to broadcast live a 50-minute exhibition duel between
\nIndonesia's number one chess player Utut Adianto and Judith
\nPolgar of Hungary, the first woman to earn the men's grandmaster
\ntitle.<\/p>\n
The association's executive director, Machnan Kamaludin, told
\nThe Jakarta Post yesterday he was negotiating with RCTI and
\nANteve, and that the two private television stations were very
\ninterested in airing the rare battle of the sexes.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, they still need some time for further
\ndeliberations before finally saying yes. We, too, still have to
\npresent more details to convince them that the event is worth
\nairing,\" Kamaludin said.<\/p>\n
Kamaludin said the association wanted the duel to be aired
\nfree of charge. The duel is to consist of four games of rapid
\nchess over 25 minutes and two blindfolded matches, Polgar's
\nfavorite game, over 25 minutes.<\/p>\n
But because chess is considered a lower-class sport in
\nIndonesia and because it is hard to understand, it may be
\ndifficult to promote on TV, Kamaludin said.<\/p>\n
\"The plan is to air the event during prime time, from about 5
\np.m. to 6 p.m on Dec. 10,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the association would try to sell the package to
\ncompanies which had previously sponsored chess tournaments
\nincluding state-owned Bank BNI and Bank BRI.<\/p>\n
\"We will also hold a golf tournament on Dec. 8 to raise funds
\nfor the program,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"To add zest, we will also feature some film of Polgar beating
\nBritain's grandmaster Nigel Short,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Judith Polgar is scheduled to arrive on Dec. 7 with her two
\nsisters, women's world champion Zsu Zsa and women's world-number-
\nsix Sofia.<\/p>\n
Kamaludin said Judith was entitled to an appearance fee of
\nUS$4,000 to $5,000 for the duel. If she wins she will get
\n$10,000. She will get $6,000 if she loses.<\/p>\n
Besides the televised duel, there will be matches between
\nSofia and Indonesia's Lisa Karlina Lumondong, Maria Lucia, Upi
\nDarmayana Tamin and Lindri Wijayanti. The four Indonesian women
\nwere members of the national women's team at last month's
\nOlympics of Chess in Yerevan, Armenia, in which they finished
\n10th. (arf)<\/p>",
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