10 non-rated players eye world's elo rating

10 non-rated players eye world's elo rating

JAKARTA (JP): 10 non-rated chess players are seeking world elo ratings in competition with 10 rated players in a 10-session, 10- day tournament which began here yesterday.

"We want to increase the number of rated chess players to 100 by the end of this year," said Cholid Gozali, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Chess Association.

At present, only 37 Indonesian players are rated by the world chess body, FIDE. Eighteen other players who have won an elo rating in various tournaments in Indonesia this year are still waiting for FIDE's recognition of their elo ratings.

A player's elo rating is a number based on certain mathematical formulae developed by American professor Arpad E. Elo.

The 10 non-rated players will gain their first elo rating of 2,325 if they win at least five matches during the competition.

The rated players will be seeking to maintain their ratings by winning points, the number of which will vary according to their present ratings. If they fail in this, their ratings will be reduced.

The tournament, which will end on Nov. 15, is offering Rp 400,000 (US$181) top prize money for the non-rated players. (arf)