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)