Indonesian GM Utut draws again at Biel Masters

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)