Nguyen checks Andrean with final counterattack

JAKARTA (JP): Vietnamese Under-12 world champion Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son showed his quality on Monday by toppling host Andrean Susilodinata's king in a last-minute attack on Monday.

The victory was made possible by a small mistake by the world number seven.

Playing the white men, Andrean made a mistake in the 24th move when he shifted his pawn c3-c4, giving Nguyen room to go on the attack in the second day of the four-day duel meet.

"Andrean had several better alternatives he could have played which would have strengthened his defense instead of opening a loophole in the 24th move," National Master Bing Sardjono, who provided commentary for the match, said.

"His next error was in the 26th move, when he moved his rook d1-d6. It was a fatal move that gave Nguyen more opportunities to attack."

"But the match was lost for Andrean when he moved his pawn a2- a3 in the 37th move. He was finished by then," he said, adding that Andrean may have made these moves because he did not have enough time to think.

In their fist meeting on Saturday, the two players ended tied at 1-1 after two rapid chess sessions at the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel on Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta.

International Referee Djamil Djamal pointed back to Andrean's decision to castle in the 21st move.

"Andrean could have just attacked through his bishop Bd5xNc6, taking Nguyen's knight and following with other attacks.

"Andrean also was less tactical in the match compared with Nguyen and he took too much time on ordinary moves," he said.

But Bing defended the castling, saying it was the right move, adding that Nguyen's attacks were not particularly special.

"However, Nguyen was very keen in spotting opportunities and using them to their full extent, giving Andrean no place to move."

Despite the defeat, Bing was positive Andrean could steal a point in Tuesday's match to level the score.

"Nguyen's openings are not so special and Andrean can develop a good defense and counterattack from the start.

"But Andrean must be careful with Nguyen, who has proven his ability as a world champion," Bing said.

Andrean's coach, Grand Master Utut Adianto, said the 11-year- old was too eager to try and win the match early, causing him to be reckless.

"It takes many good moves to build a victory, but it only takes one error to have your king conquered. Andrean has to be more careful and patient.

"Actually, both players were careful in the opening. It took one hour for only 12 moves, proving that they considered all the options," he said. (nvn)