Indonesian GM Utut draws again at Biel Masters

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Utut Adianto wasted another chance in his attempt to top the standings at the Biel Masters chess tournament in Switzerland after drawing with Lajos Portisch of Hungary on Wednesday.

But Utut gave no trace of disappointment with the result, reached after only 21 moves, upon learning that he played black pieces against a former eight-time world champion's challenger.

The draw put Utut in a three-way tie for the second place with Zurab Sturua of Georgia and Alexander Mikhailevsky of Israel with 6.5 points.

Had Utut won, he would have tied with pacesetter Milos Pavlovic, who drew with Tomas Polak of the Czech Republic in Wednesday's other game. Pavlovic stays on top with 7 points.

Portisch, the most experienced player in the tournament boasting 58 contestants, took the initiative as soon as he opted a d4 opening. Utut replied with the Queen Gambit defense, taking the game to a text-book simulation.

Utut approved major exchanges offered by Portisch after the 15th move, and an equal ending had since become apparent. The lackluster match lasted two hours and 15 minutes.

"What a relief. I neutralized consistent pressures from one of the world's best players in the past four decades," Utut said in his faxed release made available to The Jakarta Post.

"This short game gives me more time to rest," Utut joked.

The Indonesian will meet another Hungarian, Gabor Kallai, in the penultimate round.

Other ninth round results included (first names play white pieces): Sturua-Vladimir Tukmanov 0.5-0.5; Mikhailevsky-Abhijit Kunte 1-0; Dejan Antic-Vadim Milov 0-1; Kallai-Devaki Prasad 1-0; Alexander Cherniaev-Dejan Pikula 0.5-0.5. (amd)