GM Utut Adianto ready for World Chess Championships

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Grand Master Utut Adianto said on Thursday he was ready to compete in the World Chess Championships at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 31 to Aug. 29.

"I am both mentally and physically fit for the tournament and I have prepared well for it," Utut said.

Utut said he would depart for the championships on July 25 and upon his arrival in the United States he would discuss strategies with playing partner GM Eugene Torre of the Philippines. Both Utut and Torre have known each other for some time and have met in a number of tournaments.

"I consider Torre as not only my playing partner, but someone with whom I can discuss moves to be used in tournaments, especially the world championships," Utut said.

Utut, who has an elo rating of 2,607, was among two Asian players selected for the world championships. The other is Antonio Rogellio of the Philippines.

The Indonesian government also named Utut a tourism ambassador, particularly in sports.

In the world championships, Utut's first opponent will be International Master Daniel Fridman of Latvia. If he defeats Fridman, Utut will next face Grand Master Nigel Short of England. Utut has never competed against Fridman.

"Although Fridman is 10 years younger than me, I don't want to take him lightly. Fridman has a good reputation. He was runner-up in the European Championships, which was participated in by Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania," Utut said.

Short, with an elo rating of 2,689, is ranked 12th in the world. He was a semifinalist at the 1997 world championships in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Utut has met Short 11 times, compiling a record of four losses and seven draws.

"Of course it is difficult to beat Short, but I am aiming to beat him," Utut said.

If Utut defeats Short, he will meet Grand Master Alexander Belyavsky of Slovenia, who has an elo rating of 2,618. "Compared to Short, Belyavsky is easier to beat," Utut said.

The world championships will offer a total cash prize of US$3 million. A player who makes the second round will receive $12,000, while those who are eliminated in the first round get $6,000.

Indonesian Chess Federation chairman Bambang Rachmadi said the federation had not set a particular target for Utut in the tournament.

"We only hope that Utut will try his best. We don't want to set any target for him." (lnt)