Percasi welcomes Ibis chess tournament

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) welcomed the news that five Ibis hotels in Jakarta, one each in Surabaya and Yogyakarta and Hotel Arcadia would host a university chess tournament from Nov. 20 to Nov. 28.

"We welcome the initiative of the Ibis hotels in hosting the chess tournament for the university students. Through the tournaments we hope to develop talented chess players," Percasi secretary-general Jamal Jamil said last Thursday.

Jamil also said the association would help the Ibis hotels hold future chess tournaments. "We hope they will attract not only students but also other people."

He said the tournaments would employ the Swiss system, where each player meets their fellow competitors.

"The players with the most points will enter the following rounds. Eight will make it to the quarterfinals, four to the semifinals and two to the finals," he said.

The five Ibis hotels in Jakarta which will play host to the tournament are Ibis Kemayoran, Ibis Slipi, Ibis Tamarin, Ibis Mangga Dua and Ibis Cikarang. The Ibis hotels in Surabaya and Yogyakarta also will serve as hosts.

Fabrice Burtin of Accor Asia Pacific, which operates the hotels, said the tournament was limited to 30 people at each hotel.

"We will not allow students who are National Masters to play in the competition. The final round will be held at Ibis Mangga Dua from Dec. 3 to Dec. 5. A total cash prize of Rp 15 million will be offered to the winners," Burtin said, adding that there were plans to make the tournament an annual event.

Grand Master Super Utut Adianto said he welcomed the tournament and said he also was on the look out for talented chess players.

"Probably we can create caliber players from the tournament," Utut said.

Accor Asia Pacific operates the Ibis, Sofitel, Novotel and Mercure hotels and Formula I motels in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Ibis group, established in 1973, has expanded to over 400 hotels in 16 countries.

Ibis Kemayoran will host the tournament from Nov. 26 to Nov. 28; Ibis Slipi from Nov. 20 to Nov. 22; Ibis Mangga Dua from Nov. 26 to Nov. 28; and Ibis Cikarang from Nov. 26 to Nov. 28. Hotel Arcadia will host it from Nov. 20 to Nov. 22.

Students who are interested in participating in the tournament may register at one of the Ibis hotels. There is a registration fee of Rp 50,000. (lnt)