Andrean on the brink of winning world chess crown
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Andrean Susilodinata pulled himself closer to an unprecedented world chess title after chalking up a decisive win, his fourth in a row, in the penultimate round of the World Youth Championship in Oropesa del Mar, Spain, on Thursday.
The 11-year-old Indonesian beat former champion FM (FIDE Master) Dmitri Andreikine of Russia to take the U-12 category lead with 8 points as the tournament entered the last round on Friday.
Andreikine, the 1999 U-10 champion and overnight leader, was relegated to second place, tied with five other players on 7.5 points each.
The Indonesian team completed a double scalp of the mighty Russians as on the other board Susanto Megaranto, competing in the U-14 category, forced FM Evgeni Romanov, also a former world champion, to resign.
The win vaulted Susanto to third in his division with 7.5 points, and just behind leader Viktor Erdos of Hungary with 8.5 points and IM (International Master) Hikaru Nakamura of the United States with 8 points.
The victories sent the team's officials into an ecstatic celebration.
"Praise be to God! It really shows that the King of the former world champion was totally in peril after 41 moves of the Sicilian game," Kristianus Liem, who assists the team's preparation, said of Andrean's defeat of Andreikine.
Indonesia's number one chess player Utut Adianto, who coaches the Indonesian youth team, took Andrean by the hands and hugged him as soon as his protege exited the playing room.
"Andrean played an outstanding game. Material advantage was not his main objective. It was the opponent's King which he focused on," Utut said.
"You see yourself. I told you the truth that we can beat all players, even Russians," he told Andrean.
About Susanto's game, Utut said: "Susanto evidently outclassed his opponent. Look, his Knight maneuver was beautiful. Today we beat Russia 2-0. Unbelievable!"
The team conceded the only one loss in the round when U-10 category representative Boy Reinhard was defeated by Adrien Nouri of France. The Indonesian rookie has only collected 4 points from 10 games.
Kristianus said Andrean daringly carried out his instructions, which were to fight all-out to the end.
The "Warring variation" arranged by Utut was also coolly accomplished by Andrean.
He sacrificed his pawn on move 19 to build a breakthrough on Andreikine's array. The Russian's plot to release himself from the pressure by surrendering quality did not distract Andrean.
He remained in restraint even when Andreikine took his Bishop in move 33. He was seemingly unperturbed and kept moving forward with the opponent's King being the main prey of his chase.
Andrean must win his final match against Sergey Karyakin of Ukraine to secure the world championship crown. A draw or loss can drop his position to second or third, given two of the other pairings.
Meanwhile, Susanto takes on Hikaru Nakamura in a rematch of their 1999 clash in the U-12 category which the Indonesian won.
Andrean Susilodinata (INA) - FM Dmitri Andreikine (RUS/2398)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 a6 7.a4 Nf6 8.0-0 Bc5 9.Nb3 Ba7 10.Kh1 d6 11.f4 0-0 12.Bf3 Bd7 13.g4 Rad8 14.g5 Ne8 15.Bg2 f6 16.f5 Nb4 17.g6 h6 18.Bf4 exf5 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.exd5 Bc8 21.Qd3 Qd7 22.Nd4 Bxd4 23.Qxd4 Nc7 24.Rae1 Rde8 25.Qb6 Re5 26.c4! Qe7 27.Bxe5 fxe5 28.c5 Ne8 29.b4 Rf6 30.c6 Rxg6 31.b5 axb5 32.axb5 Nf6 33.Ra1 Rxg2 34.Ra8 Nxd5 35.Rxc8+ Kh7 36.Qd8 Rc2 37.Qg8+ Kg6 38.Qxd5 Rxh2+ 39.Kxh2 Qh4+ 40.Kg1 e4 41.Qxf5# 1-0