Polgar pledges to play her best

JAKARTA (JP): Hungarian Grandmaster Judith Polgar promised she would play to her best when she takes on Indonesian GM Utut Adianto in a special chess duel.

"I will show my best play although I know that Utut Adianto is a good player," Judith said on her arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Sunday.

Cholid Ghozali, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) and Eka Putra Wirya, Percasi's training director welcomed the entourage, which included Judith's sister Sofia and their parents, at the airport.

Judith has an elo rating of 2,675 and is ranked 19th in the world. She is Hungary's number one player and always wants to challenge male players.

Judith and Utut will play four simultaneous 25-minute games and two rounds of blind chess, a format where neither player sees the game board.

The players will vie for US$16,000 (Rp 33.5 million) in cash prizes of which the winner will receive $10,000 and the loser $6,000. The contest will run for seven days from Dec. 12 to Dec. 18 at Wisma Tugu. It is open to the public and a large monitor showing the moves will be provided to facilitate viewing.

Eka said that after Judith's duel with Utut, she will also play a simultaneous game with 25 players from the Gunadarma chess school. "Judith will receive $2,500 for the game."

The contest is being staged by Percasi in cooperation with a pharmacy firm.

According to Judith, she has never met Utut before but she has studied Utut's style of play. "I have already prepared myself for the match including analyzing Utut's play. I am confident I can show my best play."

While Judith is concentrating on her contest with Utut, Sofia will play a simultaneous game with Indonesian players MI Maria Ratna Lucia, MI Upi D. Tamin and MI Lisa Lumondong. Sofia will play two games with each of the local players.

Sofia will receive $2,500 as a fee for her appearance. (lnt)