GM Polgar to visit Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Grand Master (GM) Judith Polgar of Hungary will arrive at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta on Monday evening for a three-day visit.

She is scheduled to meet State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela on Tuesday before flying to Bali to compete in the US$56,500 JAPFA Classic International chess tournament 2000 at Sanur, Bali, tournament spokesman Kristianus Liem said.

Besides Polgar, whose elo rating is 2658, nine world-class men's players with elo ratings above 2600 have also been invited to compete in the tournament, from April 22 to May 2.

The players are the 1975, 1985, 1993 and 1999 FIDE world champion Anatoly Karpov (Russia, 2696), the 1999 to 2000 FIDE world champion Alexander Khalifman (Russia, 2656), GM Jan Timman (the Netherlands, 2655), GM Yasser Seirawan (United States, 2647), GM Jaan Ehlvest (Estonia, 2622), GM Gilberto Milos (Brazil, 2586), Master International (MI) Zaw Win Lay (Myanmar, 2633).

Indonesia will be represented by GM Utut Adianto (2584) and GM Ruben Gunawan (2510).

All players also received performance fees, ranging from $5,000 to $60,000. Liem said Karpov received $40,000, $20,000 lower than his original request. He said Utut would receive $6,000.

"Karpov loves to compete in Indonesia. He visited Jakarta in 1993 and 1997, as well as Medan and Bali in 1994. That's why he accepted a cut in his fee. He asked the organizer to finance his advisor's accommodation here," he said on Friday. (ivy)