Masters Upi and Maria invited to Holland, Spain

Masters Upi and Maria invited to Holland, Spain

JAKARTA (JP): Two Indonesian Women International Masters, Upi
Darmayana Tamin and Maria Lucia Ratna, have been invited to
compete in three chess competitions in the Netherlands and Spain
in December and January 1998.

The Indonesian Chess Association's secretary-general, Djamil
Djamal, said Friday that Upi and Maria would compete in the 36th
annual chess tournament in Groningen, the Netherlands, from Dec.
19 to Dec. 30.

They will also compete in the fifth Anibal from Jan. 8 to Jan.
17 and the third Ciudad de Ubeda from Jan. 20 to Jan. 29, both in
Spain.

"The invitations from other countries are an honor for our
women chess players. The association will provide the facilities
and the budget," he said, as quoted by Antara.

Djamil said European tournaments were very prestigious because
many world class players competed in them and that it would be
bad if Upi and Maria could not go because of financial problems.

"This is the perfect chance for Upi and Maria to improve their
competitive spirit, to improve their elo ratings and, if
possible, to become the first (Indonesian) Norma Women Grand
Masters," he said.

Djamil said the International Chess Federation (FIDE)
president, Kyrzan Iliumzhinov, was visiting Indonesia from
yesterday until next Saturday.

"His visit was strictly business because his trip was arranged
by the Tirta Mas Group, chaired by Hasyim S. Djojohadikusumo," he
said.

Iliumzhinov has sent a letter to the association asking to
meet the association's chairman Akbar Tanjung.

"We still have no idea about Iliumzhinov's visit but the FIDE
chairman has arranged a meeting with the association on Nov. 4,"
Djamil said. (yan)