Irwanto, Susanto get IM norm as Stefanova wins chess tourney
Irwanto, Susanto get IM norm as Stefanova wins chess tourney
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
As expected, the Wismilak International Chess Tournament title
went to Grand Master (GM) Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria, but
the host side appeared to be pleased that Irwanto Sadikin and
Susanto Megaranto managed to secure their first International
Master (IM) norm.
Stefanova, the only woman competing in the US$6,000
tournament, led from the start to ease to victory with 9.5 of the
possible 11 points in the final standings.
Her last two victims were GM Ardiansyah in the 10th round late
on Sunday and FIDE Master (FM) Hamdani Rudin in the final round
on Monday.
She was one-and-half points clear of runner-up IM Cerdas
Barus, who finished on eight points. The collection earned Cerdas
the third GM norm and he will be awarded a full GM title when his
current rating of 2456 improves to 2500.
Irwanto and Susanto ended their competition with six points
each for their first IM norm, which the Indonesian Chess
Association (Percasi) enthusiastically described as a happy
ending for the two.
"The tournament proved to be a nail-biting tussle for the
players to the end," Eka Putra Wirya, Percasi's executive
director, told The Jakarta Post.
"The players beat one another. I was anxious during the
tournament but I'm relieved at last that Irwanto and Susanto took
their norm," Eka said.
Kristianus Liem, a chess columnist, said that the two would
have to fare at least as well as in the Wismilak event in one or
two other international competitions, which incorporate at least
13 rounds.
"After 24 rounds in all, they will be awarded the full IM
title," he said.
Irwanto, who beat Joseph Majella in a playoff for the Wismilak
berth, bounced back from his defeat to Cerdas in the 10th round
to beat Cecep Kosasih on the final day.
Susanto, 15, held his mentor Danny Juswanto before outplaying
IM Nay Oo Kyaw Tun of Myanmar.
"It was a clean game," said Kristianus about the game between
Susanto and Danny. He brushed aside speculation that Danny could
have gone easy on Susanto.
"Danny fought it out and put Susanto under pressure. But
Susanto was always able to counter Danny's threat precisely,"
Kristianus said.
The final standings at the Wismilak International Chess
Tournament (Indonesian unless otherwise stated): 1. GM Antoaneta
Stefanova (Bul) 9.5 pts; 2. IM Cerdas Barus 8 pts; 3-6. IM Danny
Juswanto, GM Zaw Win Lay (Mya), FM Irwanto Sadikin, Susanto
Megaranto 6 pts; 7-8. IM Enrique Paciencia (Phi), GM Edhi Handoko
5 pts; 9. GM Ardiansyah 4.5 pts; 10-11. Cecep Kosasih, FM Hamdani
Rudin 3.5 pts; 12. IM Nay Oo Kyaw Tun (Mya) 3 pts.