Utut likely to miss SEA Games<\/p>\n
Musthofid
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Grand Master (GM) Utut Adianto is expected to miss the Southeast
\nAsian (SEA) Games in December, which would put a dent in
\nIndonesia's hopes for chess gold at the event.<\/p>\n
The SEA Games, a biennial multievent sporting showcase for the
\n10 nations in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations, will run
\nfrom Dec. 5 to Dec. 13 in Vietnam.<\/p>\n
The event will clash with the World Chess Championship, in
\nwhich Utut secured a berth during qualifying matches in Dubai in
\nApril.<\/p>\n
The nearly month-long world chess competition, which will be
\nheld in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is scheduled to begin on Dec. 3,
\naccording to the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi).<\/p>\n
\"That date is one option given to the world's chess governing
\nbody FIDE by the organizers,\" Hendry Jamals, the secretary-
\ngeneral of Percasi, told The Jakarta Post here on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"If FIDE approves the date Utut will certainly be heading to
\nAmsterdam instead of Vietnam,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Regarded as the country's top chess player, Utut, who is
\ncurrently competing in the Biel Chess Festival in Switzerland,
\nwas given an automatic berth on Indonesia's six-strong men's team
\nfor the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
A few other top players in the region also will be taking part
\nin the World Chess Championship.<\/p>\n
Vietnam's Dao Thian Hai will be playing in the world
\ncompetition, having also earned a berth in Dubai. Ronald Dableo
\nand Mark Paragua of the Philippines secured berths in the event
\nduring a June qualifying tournament in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.<\/p>\n
However, Indonesia might suffer the most if it loses its top
\nplayer for the SEA Games, as Utut is the country's best hope in
\nits bid to win three of the eight gold medals on offer.<\/p>\n
\"With Utut, we would be looking to win three golds,\" Hendry
\nsaid, mentioning the individual and team categories in men's
\nrapid chess, and the team category in men's classical chess.<\/p>\n
Besides Utut, the men's SEA Games team includes Cerdas Barus,
\nIrwanto Sadikin, Dede Liu, Susanto Megaranto and Hamdani Rudin.
\nCerdas was also an automatic inclusion, while the others played
\ntheir way onto the team during a qualifying tournament last week.<\/p>\n
The women's team comprises Upi Darmayana Tamim, Evie
\nLindyawati, Lusi Lumongdong, Ai Zakiah, Irene Kharisma and Sulung
\nWahyuningsih.<\/p>\n
The players will begin training under local coaches on Friday.
\nThat will last a month until Russian GM Evgeny Sveshnikov takes
\nover the training heading into the SEA Games.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/utut-likely-to-miss-sea-games-1447893297",
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