Dream Team beats Seniors' Team in chess exhibition tournament

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Dream Team -- comprising four young chess players -- managed to defeat their elders in the Seniors' Team 2.5-1.5 in an exhibition match to mark the opening of the Enerpac Students Cup Chess Open Championships at the Utut Adianto Chess School in Bekasi on Sunday.

The youngest member of the Dream Team, National Master (MN) Andrean Susilodinata, 11, defeated MN Fabian Lumentut in the 42nd move of the Sicilian defense.

The Seniors' Team managed to equalize the score after the 1972 Indonesia champion MN Jacobus Sampouw tamed MN Taufik Halay, 14, on the 41st move of the Gambit Bishop.

MN Susanto Megaranto, 14, then helped the Dream Team to take the lead after he defeated MN Bing Sardjono on the 46th move of the Ruy Lopez opening.

The Dream Team's victory was clinched by the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) Master (MP), Tirta Chandra, 15, after he drew with MN Ruddy Lantang on the 36th using the Hindi King defense.

Students flocked to the championships in a display of enthusiasm. The Elementary School Group (12 years of age and below) was participated in by 73 players from Greater Jakarta and also Indramayu, West Java, and Yogyakarta.

The Junior High School Group (between 13 and 15) drew 32 competitors while the High School Group (between 16 and 18) attracted 32 competitors.

Percasi executive director Eka Putra Wirya said in his speech when opening the championships that he was very happy to see the high level of enthusiasm among students, especially in the Elementary School Group, which had four participants from kindergarten who were only five years old.

"They have great spirit to compete in the championships and I'm very proud of them. I really hope that we can recruit some of the best players to be included in the Dream Team II," said Eka, who is also the Percasi official in charge of player development.

The championships are using a six-round Swiss system and will feature two matches each day. (yan)