Danny Yuswanto takes Wotulo Memorial chess tournament

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)