Kasparov to visit Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): The Professional Chess Player Association's world champion, Garry Kasparov of Russia, has expressed hopes of visiting Indonesia this year.

A release from the Indonesian Chess Association said Kasparov's agent, Owen William in Palm Beach, Florida, hoped the association could arrange a series of simultaneous matches between Kasparov and some top local players during his visit.

The association's executive director, Machnan Kamaluddin, said he would try hard to find sponsors to invite Kasparov.

"If the country's economic disaster ends soon, it would be an honor for Indonesians, especially the Indonesian chess community, that a world champion as great as Kasparov wants to visit and play against our players," he said.

Anatoly Karpov of Russia, Jan Timman of the Netherlands, Judit Polgar of Hungary, Nigel Short of England and Yasser Seirawan of the United States are world top players who have visited Indonesia in the last five years. (yan)