Local chess star ready for world championships

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Grandmaster Utut Adianto is refusing to predict how well he will do in the world chess championships in Groningen, the Netherlands, from Dec. 8 to Dec. 28 and only said he was fully prepared for the event.

"I don't want to say anything yet on whether I can win any matches at the world chess championships. I only want to say that I am ready," Utut said yesterday.

Utut, making his debut in the championships, is one of the representatives of East Asia and the Asia-Pacific zone.

The competition will feature 100 of the world's best players. The winner will challenge world champion GM Anatoly Karpov of Russia.

Utut left for the Netherlands last night, accompanied by Eka Putra Wirya, a top official of the Indonesian Chess Association. Eka is also the director of the Enerpac chess school.

Utut, who has an elo rating of 2,610, will meet GM Wang Zili of China in the first round. Zili has an elo rating of 2,520.

In the second round, Utut would then face GM Peter Svidlier of Russia who has an elo rating of 2,640.

Referring to his target at the championships, Utut said he hopes to reach the finals.

"Since it is a knockdown system, we have to play carefully. If we lose any matches, we are automatically out. I hope I can at least get as far as the final round," Utut said.

Utut has prepared for the world championships since Nov. 3 by conducting a series of training sessions with GM Eugene Torre of the Philippines in Cisarua, West Java.

He has also played against Karpov in the Clash of the Titans. Although he lost 3.5-5.5 to the Russian maestro. Utut said this inspired him to do better in the coming championships.

"I learned a lot from Karpov in the duel match. I will try to apply Karpov's techniques against the top players," Utut said.

Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tandjung, who is also the association's chairman, encouraging Utut to do his best at the championships.

"I hope that Utut will succeed and of course get to the final round. If he succeeds, we in Percasi (the Indonesian acronym for the association) will honor him with respect," Akbar said.

At the same press conference, Akbar inaugurated the Bali Jeff Center at the Bank Aspac building on Jl. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta.

He also officially bade farewell to four young players, Taufik Hallay, Susanto Megaranto, Evie Lindiawati and Bagas Prama Ananta, who are taking part in the world junior championships in Cannes, France, from Dec. 8 to Dec. 18.

Kristianus Liem, the association's spokesman, will accompany the young players. They are scheduled to leave for Cannes today.

The minister hoped this center could create talented chess players. "I hope there will be players with Utut's caliber. I am certain this can be achieved through this center."

Jeffrie Geovanie, the center's director, said the center would provide all the necessary facilities for chess enthusiasts.

"We will provide a library, computers and trainers for the members," Jeffrie said.

Jeffrie added that the customers would be charged an annual membership fee of Rp 5 million (US$1,300).

"They are free to play at the center. We will give them all the necessary training and hope they can become good players," Jeffrie said.

Jeffrie said that the center would open in January next year. "In the meantime, we are concentrating on publicizing the center," he added, declining to say how many members he was hoping to attract. (lnt)