Local chess players shine in JAPFA International Open 2000

JAKARTA (JP): Local chess players showed their style by surpassing top foreign opponents in the second round of the JAPFA International Open 2000 at Grand Bali Beach Hotel at Sanur, Bali.

National Master (NM) Achyu Iswana of Southeast Sulawesi outshone International Master (IM) Zaw Win Lay of Myanmar after 40 moves by using the Spanish opening, Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) spokesman Kristianus Liem said in a media release on Thursday.

Zaw, whose elo rating is 2633, had just finished competing in the JAPFA Classic International and made an impressive performance by defeating Super Grand Master (GM) Jaan Ehlvest of Estonia (2622) on the final day of the tournament on Tuesday.

On another table, NM Johanis Spd from South Kalimantan beat IM Rico Mascarinas of the Philippines in the 59th move using the English opening. Both players suffered a time crisis and failed to record their moves.

Another surprise came from NM Denny Sonjaya from Bandung, West Java, who beat IM Mikhail Podgaets (2483) in 79 moves using the Queen Indian defense with a Fianchetto variant. They battled for about six hours.

However, eleven out of the 14 international GMs competing in the event managed to outclass their domestic rivals. Ehlvest beat NM Adang Gumilar in 53th moves. GM Alex Wojkiewicz (Poland, 2563) defeated NM Agus Suboro. GM Ian Rogers (Australia, 2562) beat Andersson YH, GM Eugene Torre (the Philippines, 2557) beat NM Antung Selamat of South Kalimantan.

GM Dibyendu Barua (India, 2555) overwhelmed NM Arthur Paat of Jakarta. GM Darryl Johansen (Australia, 2494) beat NM Ch. Anggoro of Bali, GM Normund Miezis (Latvia, 2481) defeated E. Sukanda and GM Sergey Beshukov (Russia, 2460) beat Hendra S.

Three Indonesian GMs were also victorious against their fellow countrymen. GM Ruben Gunawan (2507) beat NM Buntoro, GM Edhi Handoko (2435) beat NM Haryadi Sucipto and senior player GM Ardiansyah (2396) defeated NM Johny Jurmansyah.

Indonesian female players who have earned two points are International Female Master Upi D. Tamin, who beat Fikrul Saifudin of East Java in 44 moves with the Reti opening. National women's Master Diah Saidah, who beat an Australian in the first game on Wednesday, drew with Shinta Kartika of Bali in the 47th move using the Bird opening.

Youngster and Percasi Master Taufik Halay also earned two points after defeating Adik Suprianto (2300). Taufik beat Yan Roswa on Wednesday. While NM Susanto Megaranto, who finished third in the world junior championships for under-12s, drew with Risman Siahaan of Jakarta. (ivy)