Dao strikes back to level matchup against Susanto<\/p>\n
Musthofid
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
GM Dao Thien Hai booked back-to-back wins to even the score
\nwith GM Susanto Megaranto in their Japfa chess contest.<\/p>\n
After taking his first win on Wednesday to reduce the gap to
\n1-2, the Vietnamese player's experience told as he crushed
\nSusanto on Thursday in 39 moves, curbing the home fans' euphoria
\nfrom their teenage star's stunning early lead.<\/p>\n
Two games are left to decide the winner of top cash prize of
\nUS$1,500, with the winner taking half the amount.<\/p>\n
Susanto, 17, blamed rushed decisions for his defeat.<\/p>\n
\"I lacked restraint during the game. I was too greedy in
\nmaking the attack,\" he said.<\/p>\n
After taking a beating for the overly risky lines he chose on
\nWednesday, Susanto was more cautious on Thursday but failed to be
\nmindful of his opponent's forays .<\/p>\n
Midway through the game, Dao signaled his attack on the king's
\nside when he shifted his rook to the king's night file.<\/p>\n
Susanto attempted to counter through the queen's side, but Dao
\nwas able to execute his game plan due to his opponent's poor
\nselection.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old Vietnamese then utilized all his attacking
\nresources; his queen stood menacingly, assisted by the rook and
\nbishop which were positioned for further strikes.<\/p>\n
Susanto found himself devoid of most of his pieces, left in a
\nhelpless position in attempting to rescue the beleaguered king.<\/p>\n
He tried to hang on by sacrificing a bishop but, with yet
\nanother piece gone, his fight was soon over.<\/p>\n
While acknowledging the increasingly solid performance of Dao,
\nSusanto, who has been hailed as the successor to GM Utut Adianto,
\nsaid that he would try to do his best in the final two games.<\/p>\n
In the Open category, nontitled Tirta Chandra Purnama and
\nSugeng Prayitno upset higher-rated opponents to share the lead,
\nwith four other players tied on 5.5 points after six rounds.<\/p>\n
Tirta defeated GM Ruben Gunawan while Sugeng edged GM Edhi
\nHandoko. The other four joint leaders are Tirto, Ivan Situru,
\nHamdani Rudin and GM Ardiansyah.<\/p>\n
A group of 14 players is half a point behind, including top
\nseed Danny Juswanto, who failed to turn up on the opening day due
\nto a family commitment but has taken five consecutive matches.<\/p>\n
Irene Kharisma is the lone leader in the women's category with
\na formidable collection of six points. Lisa Lumongdong is a
\ndistant second on 4.5 points, followed by Evie Lindiawati and
\nLamria Situmeang with 3.5 points.<\/p>\n
As of the sixth round, cash prizes have been allotted for the
\ntop 20 players in a move by the Indonesian Chess Association to
\ncurb match fixing.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dao-strikes-back-to-level-matchup-against-susanto-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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