Susanto-Dao showdown highlights chess event<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Young chess grand master Susanto Megaranto will take on
\nregional heavyweight Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam in the main event
\nof the Japfa Chess Festival here in May.<\/p>\n
Susanto, 18, who attained his GM title at the Chess Olympiad
\nin October, will play Dao, 27, in six rounds of classic chess
\nfrom May 2-7 at Wisma Karsa Pemuda building in Senayan, Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The clock time is an hour and half for one player, with a 30-
\nsecond increment for each move. The winner takes home US$1,500
\nand the loser $750.<\/p>\n
\"I contacted Dao three weeks ago and he confirmed he is
\ncoming. He is happy and feels honored by the invitation,\"
\nSebastian Simanjuntak, the ad interim secretary-general of the
\nIndonesian Chess Association (Percasi), told The Jakarta Post
\nhere on Friday.<\/p>\n
The showdown will provide valuable matchplay for both players
\nbefore the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila in December, in
\nwhich Indonesia and Vietnam will be strong contenders in the
\nsport.<\/p>\n
\"Dao is the highest rated player in the region. We can expect
\nhim to push Susanto to the limit,\" Sebastian said.<\/p>\n
Although most of the attention will be on the Susanto-Dao
\nmatchup, the festival also features competition in some other
\ncategories: the women's Open division, under 20, under 14,
\nveterans and non-master team, with cash prizes totaling Rp 80
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
The nine-round event, according to Sebastian, will use an
\nunprecedented system of prize distribution, particularly in the
\nmen's Open division, in an effort to curb rampant match fixing.<\/p>\n
\"We will start distributing the cash, based on a player's
\nranking, as early as round six. Players are encouraged to take
\ntheir games seriously for their possible rise on the
\nleaderboard,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, this will be able to deter players from throwing a
\na game to prize-chasing contenders with the expectation of
\ngetting a portion of the cash.\"<\/p>",
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