Percasi to send 5 players to Manila

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) will send its five best players to compete at the Asia zone 32 chess championship in Manila from April 23 to May 2.

The players are Grand Master (GM) Utut Adianto, International Master (MI) Dede Liu, GM Norm Danny Yuswanto, GM Edhi Handoko and MI Syarif Mahmud.

Percasi executive director, Eka Putra Wirya, said Monday that the championship would be competed in by 14 countries including Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia and 10 ASEAN members.

The winner and runner-up at the event will qualify for the World Chess Championship.

Utut received a wild card to compete at last year's championship in New Delhi.

"We can actually send 10 chess players to the event but the organizers only provided board and lodging for five players while Percasi can only afford to cover five players' expenses," Eka said, as quoted by Antara. (yan)