Indonesian GM Utut gets another 2nd place in Biel
Indonesian GM Utut gets another 2nd place in Biel
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's top chess player Utut Adianto lost
his usual self-control in the final round of the Biel Masters
tournament in Switzerland Friday, costing him his bid for a
second title.
Utut, Biel winner in 1994, managed only a draw with Dejan
Pikula of Yugoslavia in the match, a result that gave another
Yugoslavian, Milos Pavlovic, the championship trophy despite a
disappointing draw with lowly Oliver Niklasch of Germany in
Friday's other game.
Pavlovic, who placed himself in front midway through the 12-
day event, finished first with 8.5 points. Utut was half a point
behind for second spot.
Niklasch shared the third place with Zurab Sturua of Georgia
and Vladimir Tukmanov of Ukraine on 7.5.
Pavlovic, the only unbeaten player in the 58-field
competition, took home the winner's 42,000 Swiss francs check.
Playing in a must-win situation, Utut appeared to force a
quick downfall of Pikula when he opted a trompovsky attacking
game plan. But Utut rocked his own plot as early as the game
started with a makeshift opening variant that allowed the
Yugoslav a slight upper hand.
A frustrated Utut offered a draw in the 12th move after seeing
no single way to victory. Pikula did not think twice to accept
the equal ending.
"Perhaps God has proposed that I finish as a runner-up. I was
too nervous in that decisive match," Utut said in a statement to
The Jakarta Post.
The only consolation for Utut, who also finished second last
year, was a five-point increase to his elo rating of 2,610.
Other results Friday included Tukmakov's defeat of Alexander
Mikhailevsky, Vadim Milov's win over Nino Gurieli, the only woman
in the tournament, Lajos Portisch's victory over top seed Vadim
Milov and Alexander Cherniaev's defeat of Hans-Juerg Kaenel.
Utut will leave for Warsaw today to take part in the Koszalin
Open. It is almost certain that he is to top the seeding list in
his debut in the tournament, which kicks off tomorrow. (amd)