KONI wants more than three golds

KONI wants more than three golds

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Sports Council (KONI) has set a modest target for
the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) at the upcoming
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in December.

The next biennial games, which will be hosted by Vietnam, will
mark the maiden inclusion of chess on the list of sports.

The demand for a greater achievement was voiced by KONI
chairman Agum Gumelar on Wednesday.

"Why is it only three? As a country with population of around
220 million, Indonesia should be one of the chess powers, not
only in Southeast Asia but in all of Asia," Agum said while
addressing the opening ceremony of the Japfa Chess Festival here.

Percasi has set itself a target of winning three of the eight
gold medals on offer in the chess competition.

The festival, which features 536 chess players in five classes
including one being exhibited among public figures, serves as the
qualifying field ahead of the formation of the national team.

With a plan to send six men and six women to Vietnam and with
four places having been awarded to four top national players,
Percasi has been looking for another four each in the men's and
women's field.

The new recruits will be selected from a shortlist of
candidates picked from a series of tournaments, including the
ongoing Japfa event.

Percasi chairman Machnan Kamaluddin said they would have good
prospects in the men's competition with Grand Master (GM) Utut
Adianto, who has just secured a place in the next World
Championship, as the ace.

"I understand why Pak Agum asked about our target. He is still
unaware about our real strength and the region in the general,"
he said, citing host Vietnam could be a strong contender along
with the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Susanto Megaranto, who is assured of an
International Master (IM) title after his impressive performance
at the recent Gunadarma Open, was upset in the opening round of
the master's competition at the Japfa event.

Susanto, 16-year-old, who is the top seed in the nine-round
tournament, was held to a draw by non-master Nurji Kembi.

"Susanto should have beaten his opponent given their recent
records. On the board it was an unexpected result that Susanto
got," chess columnist Kristianus Liem said.

Kristianus said Susanto seemed to have a jinx with a defensive
opponent.

"He will find difficulty against an opponent who plays a safe
game and avoids taking risk. Nurji played a defensive game
against Susanto," Kristianus said.

Other seeds showed their value with GM Cerdas Barus, GM Edhi
Handoko and FIDE Master (FM) Hamdani Rudin beating their
respective opponents.