Indonesia's Utut up and down at rapid chess<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Grand Master Utut Adianto suffered
\nhis second defeat in the US$48,000 Intercontinental Rapid Chess
\ntournament at Cap d'Agde, France, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The loss at the hands of defending champion Boris Gelfand of
\nBelarus was a setback after Utut celebrated two convincing wins
\nless than 24 hours before.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Utut, who played black, resigned after 36 moves of
\na match fully controlled by Gelfand. The Indonesian matched his
\neastern European opponent only in the first 15 moves.<\/p>\n
\"I did not set a target of beating Gelfand, but a defeat is
\nvery disappointing,\" Utut said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian slumped to his first defeat in a game against
\ntop seed and Ukrainian world number five Vasilly Ivanchuk on
\nSunday. Utut recouped for a quick recovery on Monday, sweeping
\nFrench teenager Etienne Bacrot and Ivan Morovic of Chile in
\ndevastating displays.<\/p>\n
Gelfand's victory over Utut puts him tied atop Group B along
\nwith Ivanchuk on four points after five games. Both players look
\ncertain to reach the knockout round of the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
Utut collected 2.5 points for a two-way tie for the fourth
\nplace with fellow Asian representative Thien Hai Dao of Vietnam.
\nThe two were scheduled to meet in crucial match on Tuesday as
\nonly four of the eight players will qualify for the final eight.<\/p>\n
In the final game on Thursday, Utut will play Esam Mohamed of
\nEgypt who beat bottom-placed and winless Walter Arencibia of Cuba
\nin Tuesday's fifth round match.<\/p>\n
In Group A, official world champion Antoly Karpov of Russia
\nand world women's champion Judith Polgar of Hungary played fast
\nbut lackluster matches.<\/p>\n
Karpov agreed to an equal ending, his fourth in the
\ntournament, with Hichem Hamdouchi of Morocco after only 17 moves,
\nwhile Polgar drew with Iossif Dorfman of France in four moves
\nless.<\/p>\n
Karpov has three points along with Australia's Ian Rogers,
\nHamdouchi and Dorfman. Polgar is half a point behind.<\/p>\n
Utut believed Karpov was using an energy-saving tactic.<\/p>\n
\"He (Karpov) is clever and always plays cautiously. He
\napparently tries not to lose any game and a draw is enough for
\nhim,\" Utut said as quoted by Antara news agency. (lnt)<\/p>",
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