GM Nigel Short to play Utut

GM Nigel Short to play Utut

JAKARTA (JP): Grand Master Utut Adianto, in a bid to boost his elo rating, will take on GM Nigel Short of England in a six-round duel here from Dec. 21 to Dec. 28, the Indonesian Chess Association announced yesterday.

Short is ranked 19th in the world with an elo rating of 2,645. Utut's elo rating is 2,600. Short challenged world champion GM Gary Kasparov in London in 1993. Following that match, a rift in the world chess body, FIDE, led to Kasparov's establishment of a rival international chess body, the Professional Chess Association.

Last year, Utut, whose elo rating was 2,525, was pitted against GM Yasser Seirawan of the United States. He lost 2-4 to Seirawan and his rating fell.

The Indonesian Chess Association will be required to pay appearance money of US$5,000 to Short and $3,000 to Utut for the game. (arf)