Krivec ties Alexandria in Jababeka chess
Krivec ties Alexandria in Jababeka chess
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
WIM Jana Krivec of Slovenia posted wins in two matches to
share the lead with WGM Nana Alexandria of Georgia at the
Jababeka Women's International Chess Tournament here on Tuesday.
Krivec increased her total to seven points with wins over
tailenders Roslina Marmono of Malaysia in the seventh round and
Sri Vidawati of Indonesian in the eighth round at Kartika Chandra
Hotel in Central Jakarta.
Alexandria lost half a point when she drew with local WIM Upi
Darmayana Tamin in the eighth round in only 16 moves. She
previously defeated Evi Lindiawati, another local player.
Upi was upset by compatriot Sri Vidawati earlier to lose
ground in her bid for the title in the US$7,000, 11-round event.
She remained in third, 1.5 points behind the joint leaders.
Half a point behind her are local teenagers Evi and WFM Irene
Kharisma.
Evi bounced back from her loss to Alexandria to thrash WIM
Angela Khegai of Uzbekistan in a Pirc game that lasted 75 moves.
Irene put behind her shocking back-to-back defeats on Sunday and
Monday to end the day with an additional 1.5 points.
Entering the eighth round with a win over fellow Indonesian
Stefani Dian Cheri earlier in the day, Irene's prospects against
Adelaide Zakharova of Russia looked bleak, but she saved the day
with a perpetual check to force a draw.
With three games left in the tournament, the 14 year old, who
is being pushed by the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) to
become the country's first women's grand master, toughed it out
in the next challenge to collect the required minimum 7.5 points
for a Women's International Master (WIM) norm.
Next up for her are Evi and Upi but she is already thinking
about playing Krivec in the final round.
"I'll battle hard against Krivec. Only one round is played on
the final day, so I will have enough time to prepare."
Stefani is also hopeful about her first IM norm, but that
would take winning all three remaining games.
"I'm not over yet. I'll try to be more focused in the next
games," said Stefani, who stopped Hui Dawn in the eighth round.
Stefani is in a threeway tie with Khegai and WIM Lisa
Lumongdong on 4.5 points.