Chess body pushes bid for WGM title

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) is taking another step to produce the country's first women's grand master by hosting an international women's tournament after an eight-year absence.

Six local hopefuls will meet foreign counterparts in the US$7,000 Jababeka Women's International Chess Tournament. The weeklong 11-round will take place at the Kartika Chandra Hotel in Central Jakarta beginning on Friday.

Local players are Women's International Master (WIM) Upi Darmayana Tamin, WIM Lisa Lumongdong, Women's FIDE Master (WFM) Irene Kharisma, Evi Lindiawati, Sri Vidawati and Stefani Dian Cheri.

Visiting contenders include Women's Grand Master (WGM) Nana Alexandria (Georgia), WIM Jana Krivec (Slovenia), WFM Adelaida Zakharova (Russia) WIM Khegai Angela (Uzbekistan), Hui Dawn (Singapore) and Roslina Marmono (Malaysia).

The tournament is part of Percasi's declared objective to produce the first women's grand master.

"We are keen to realize all the programs that have been drawn up to bring our women's chess to the world. This is the first step to pave the way for our players to gain an IM," association secretary Harry Jaya Pahlawan said in a release here on Wednesday.

A player who manages to collect at least 7.5 points from 11 rounds will earn an IM norm, the first requirement to obtaining a full IM title.

"Let's see how our players fare in the tournament. And then we may start thinking about organizing a GM tournament," he said.

At the last women's international tournament here in 1997, Upi, Lisa and Sri were among seven national players in the event.

Foreign players swept the top places, with Nana finishing third. Angela, the only other foreign player making her return this week, shared fourth place with Upi.

The chess association is pinning its hopes on 14-year-old Irene, whose improved performance has earned her the FM title.

The rising star will face an uphill task against rated players such as the vastly experienced Nana, who obtained her WIM title in 1966 and the WGM title 10 years later.

She was also the Women's World Championship challenger twice, losing to Nona Gaprindashvili in 1975 and drawing with Maia Chiburdanidze in 1981.

A simultaneous game featuring women's world champion Xie Jun of China against 27 members of the national women's team for the Southeast Asian Games and national junior team will also be held.