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.