Indonesia's Edhi Handoko

Indonesia's Edhi Handoko
secures Grandmaster title (2x23)

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Edhi Handoko (right in photo above)
secured his long awaited Grand Master title after he drew world
women's champion Xu Jun of China (left) in the last day of the
Gunadharma international chess championship here yesterday.

Edhi, who was only half a point shy of the eight required to
reach the highest level of the world chess, forced an stalemate
in the 23rd move after the three hour of play held at Dai-Ichi
hotel.

Using the Sicilian opening, Edhi held Xu with a queen, a pair
of knights, a pair of rooks and a bishop against Xu's pairs of
bishops and rooks and a knight. Xu could not avoid accepting the
offer, seeing that she had nothing left to beat her stubborn,
attack-minded opponent.

A throng of local fans and journalists, who had been waiting
for the glorious moment, rushed into the new Grand Master to
congratulate him.

While Edhi engaged in cheerful jubilation, Xu burst into tears
for losing the game. She had collected seven points and a victory
would have earned her the coveted title.

"At last, after 12 years my dream comes true," said the
smiling Edhi after the nervy "battle of the sexes." He becomes
the fourth Indonesian to take the title after Herman Suradiradja,
Ardiansyah and Utut Adianto.

Edhi produced a double as he racked up eight points to top the
standings at the tournament which fielded 13 men's and women's
chess wizards. The 34-year-old new Grand Master bagged the
winner's US$3,000 purse out of the $10,000 in cash prizes at
stake.

"I'm poised to raise my elo rating to 2,600 required in
professional competitions," said Edhi. He holds now 2,490 of elo
rating.

Edhi deserved the Master International title for his
commendable performance in the 1982 Chess Olympics in
Switzerland. The native of Surakarta, Central Java triumphed in
the national championship four times in 1978, 1978, 1984 and
1991. He has also wore the national colors in Olympic Chess seven
times since 1980. (amd)