Juniors hope to steal the show in Pusam Cup

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Samarinda, East Kalimantan

Junior chess stars Susanto Megaranto, Tirta Chandra Purnama and Taufik Halay are relishing the prospect of taking on more experienced competitors at the Pusam Cup in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

With an average age of just 16, the three, along with Andrean Susilodinata, 12, who is absent from the tournament, are members of the national "Dream Team", who have represented Indonesia in international junior tournaments in the past five years.

The opening round of the tournament was played on Monday at 7 p.m. local time.

Typically shy Susanto, who emerged the surprise winner of last year's cup, said he wanted to prove the victory was no fluke.

"Cerdas Barus," he said when asked about his likely toughest rival. Cerdas is one of the nation's top players. He recently won gold as the highest-point scorer on board three at the 2002 Chess Olympiad in Slovenia.

Cerdas beat Susanto in their only meeting to date at the 2002 Wismilak International tournament in Surabaya, East Java.

Meanwhile, Tirta specifically singled out Hamdani Rudin whom he was anxious to beat. Hamdani is one of five FIDE Master (FM) holders at the tournament.

"I really want to meet him ... to beat him to level the scores," said Tirta, who lost to Hamdani in his only match at the 2002 Pusam Cup.

Susanto and Tirta currently play for the Jakarta-based Japfa Chess Club, while Taufik has opted for the Pusam Club in Samarinda.

Unlike his two friends, Taufik has played fewer tournaments and lost his form. He relies on training under the guidance of International Master (IM) Ivan Situru.

"I want to reach at the top ten in the tournament," he said.

However his mentor complained about the lack of mental grit shown by his protege, saying that Taufik, who began his apprenticeship with Pusam in 2001, appeared lacked motivation.

But Ivan did not seem to lose his sense of humor when commenting on how to lift Taufik for the tournament. "I told him I will send him back to Jakarta if he fails to finish in the top ten."

Taufik is not a player without talent. He was Indonesia's number one junior before Susanto emerged.

He managed to place in the top ten at the 1998 World Youth Chess Championship in Spain, where Susanto had yet to show his power. The following year, Susanto won bronze while Taufik ended up in 8th place.

While Susanto has been consistent, Taufik has faltered, missing inclusion for the 2001 championship.

The 2003 Pusam Cup gives Taufik another chance to prove he can bounce back.

Apart from Cerdas and Hamdani, the three juniors will have to contend with the ruthless offense from the likes of Grand Master (GM) Edhi Handoko, GM Ardiansyah and FM Irwanto Sadikin.