Danny Yuswanto takes Wotulo Memorial chess tournament

JAKARTA (JP): Grand Master (GM) Norm Danny Yuswanto of Indonesia topped the Wotulo Memorial International Grand Master Chess Tournament after winning his last session with a total 9.5 Match Points (MPs) on Monday.

Danny, whose elo rating is 2487, defeated GM Normunds Miezis of Latvia, who has an elo rating of 2601, in the 40th move of the Sicilian opening during the tournament's last session at the Clarion Golden Hotel after grueling days of competition played over 13 sessions

"I wasn't surprised by the result because I expected that I would win the tournament," Danny told reporters.

Not only did he have the highest score of the tournament, but he also complied with his GM Norm last Thursday when he defeated National Master (MN) Sugeng Prayitno in the eighth session.

Playing chess since the age of seven, Danny has to produce at least 70 percent victories from a total 24 matches before he can officially use the GM title.

"I have played 13 sessions in the Wotulo Memorial and I need 11 more sessions. It will take one or two more tournaments to fulfill the requirement," he said.

"But I'll have to wait for invitations to play other GMs because there won't be many of them competing in open tournaments abroad. I would prefer a round robin tournament to improve my points."

Danny said he would play in a chess tournament in Manila in May.

"As it is an open tournament using the Swiss system (pairing of equal rankings) it will be difficult for me to get enough points to be able to use the GM title."

"There is no guarantee that any GMs will compete in the tournament. I must meet at least 2 GMs in a tournament to increase my points for the promotion."

The Wotulo Memorial featured seven foreign GMs.

National Master (MN) Yoseph Majella became the second Indonesian chess player to attain the International Master (MI) Norm after scoring a victory over MI Dede Liu on the 33rd move of the Sicilian opening.

Earlier on Saturday, MN Cecep Kosasih defeated Indonesian Sugeng Prayitno to earn his MI Norm.

In second place was GM Krunoslav Hulak of Croatia with 8.5 MPs after defeating the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Master (MF) Awam Wahono on the 47th move of the Sicilian opening, while Australian G. Darryl Johansen finished third collecting 8 MPs after defeating MN Sugeng on the 42nd move of the Slavic opening.

Collecting 7.5 MPs, MN Cecep is grouped together with GM Zaw Win Lay of Myanmar and MI Dede.

GM Krishnan Sasikiran finished seventh with 7 MPs followed by GM Stefan Djuric of Yugoslavia and MN Yoseph Majella with 6.5 MPs. GM Normunds Miezis shared 6 MPs with Mongolian GM Dashzeveg Sharavdor. (nvn)