Hutagalung wins Hamzah Haz Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Men's chess player ESM Hutagalung defeated Ruby Tamono on Friday to win the Hamzah Haz Cup chess tournament, Antara news agency reported.

Hutagalung was tied with Kasmiran with eight Match Points (MPs) after nine sessions, but Hutagalung won the title with a better progressive score. Kasmiran outclassed Sugeng Prayitno on Friday.

Tommy Suprianto secured third place with 7.5 MPs by beating Indonesia's senior chess player Ardiansyah, on Friday at the office of the Jakarta chapter of the National Sports Council on Jl. Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

Meanwhile, a relative newcomer to the chess world, Taufik Halay had his title promoted to National Master from the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) Master after overwhelming Jacobus Sumampouw to reach seven MPs.

Taufik finished tied for fourth with nine other players, including Sugeng, Ruby, Irwanto, Maksum Firdaus, Aris TLS, Suryaman and Haryadi Sucipto.

Another young chess player, Susanto Megaranto, finished tied for fifth with a number of other players at 6.5 MPs. Indonesia's youngest member of the so-called dream team, Andrean Susilodinata, finished with five MPs. (nvn)