Double blow for Utut in Cafe Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Grand Master (GM) Utut Adianto ended his Polish sojourn on a sour note Thursday, losing his final- round match and having his elo rating cut.

An upset defeat to GM Henrik Teskes of Germany on the 54th move at the MK Cafe Cup tournament in Koszalin cost Utut 10 points of his current rating of 2,610. The automatic reduction was imposed on Utut because the German had a lower rating (2,510).

But in fact Utut's rating will remain unchanged because he secured a 10-point bonus after winning the Estonia Memorial and finishing second in Biel, Switzerland in the run-up to the Cafe Cup.

Teskes stopped Utut after four hours and 20 minutes of play.

"Playing white caused me to force a win, although it turned out that a draw was the most likely outcome. Perhaps Koszalin is not my tournament, but it's okay. Life will go on," Utut said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post yesterday.

The defeat dropped Utut, one of only seven Super Grand Masters in the tournament, out of the top 12. He ended up with only 5.5 points after 10 matches.

Igor Khenkin of Israel capped his superb showing by taking the championship trophy and the winner's US$5,000 purse. Setting the pace from the start, the unbeaten Khenkin scored eight points after drawing with top seed and home favorite Michal Krasenkow.

Krasenkow was second with GM Alexander Beljavski, GM Emil Sutovsky, GM Zbynek Hracek, GM Eduardus Rozentalis, International Master Gritschuk and GM Igor Novikov on seven points.

Teske shared ninth place with IM Markowski, GM Nisipeanus and IM Bartoscz Socko with 6.5 points.

Utut is expected to return to Indonesia on Aug. 18. (lnt)