Indonesia's Utut up and down at rapid chess

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Grand Master Utut Adianto suffered his second defeat in the US$48,000 Intercontinental Rapid Chess tournament at Cap d'Agde, France, on Tuesday.

The loss at the hands of defending champion Boris Gelfand of Belarus was a setback after Utut celebrated two convincing wins less than 24 hours before.

On Tuesday, Utut, who played black, resigned after 36 moves of a match fully controlled by Gelfand. The Indonesian matched his eastern European opponent only in the first 15 moves.

"I did not set a target of beating Gelfand, but a defeat is very disappointing," Utut said.

The Indonesian slumped to his first defeat in a game against top seed and Ukrainian world number five Vasilly Ivanchuk on Sunday. Utut recouped for a quick recovery on Monday, sweeping French teenager Etienne Bacrot and Ivan Morovic of Chile in devastating displays.

Gelfand's victory over Utut puts him tied atop Group B along with Ivanchuk on four points after five games. Both players look certain to reach the knockout round of the quarterfinals.

Utut collected 2.5 points for a two-way tie for the fourth place with fellow Asian representative Thien Hai Dao of Vietnam. The two were scheduled to meet in crucial match on Tuesday as only four of the eight players will qualify for the final eight.

In the final game on Thursday, Utut will play Esam Mohamed of Egypt who beat bottom-placed and winless Walter Arencibia of Cuba in Tuesday's fifth round match.

In Group A, official world champion Antoly Karpov of Russia and world women's champion Judith Polgar of Hungary played fast but lackluster matches.

Karpov agreed to an equal ending, his fourth in the tournament, with Hichem Hamdouchi of Morocco after only 17 moves, while Polgar drew with Iossif Dorfman of France in four moves less.

Karpov has three points along with Australia's Ian Rogers, Hamdouchi and Dorfman. Polgar is half a point behind.

Utut believed Karpov was using an energy-saving tactic.

"He (Karpov) is clever and always plays cautiously. He apparently tries not to lose any game and a draw is enough for him," Utut said as quoted by Antara news agency. (lnt)