Andrean fights hard but finally succumbs

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Andrean Susilodinata went down to Alexandra Kosteniuk from Russia in the first game of the Japfa Chess Match at the VOC Cafe and Gallery in North Jakarta on Monday.

Andrean, 12, put up strong opposition to the world runner-up throughout the game but he could not hold on after 59 moves.

Playing White, Andrean opted for an e4 opening. Kosteniuk responded with c5, which led the game to a variation of the Sicilian.

After ten moves each, the buildup looked to give weight to White given Black's hanging pawn on e5.

"White was a bit ahead because Black was left with a hanging pawn, which was prone to collapse," Indonesian team coach GM Utut Adianto said while the game was in progress.

However, Andrean was caught out by his own indifferent play when he moved his Knight to e2 in the following four moves, instead of going for the Knights exchange on e4.

Despite being seemingly a minor mistake, the maneuver let Kosteniuk wrest the initiative with her Queen thrust combined with other active Pieces.

However, Andrean proved indomitable and only after 40 moves did he end up trailing against his opponent. With her freed pawn on the a-square, Kosteniuk in the end forced Andrean to resign.

The two players will play their second game on Tuesday with Andrean holding Black.