RI chess players win in KL

JAKARTA (JP): Four Indonesian chess players won best player awards at the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur which ended Monday.

They were Grandmaster Edhi Handoko, GM Ruben Gunawan, International Master Sebastian Simanjuntak and Novian Siregar. They returned to Indonesia Tuesday night.

The Malaysian Open was held to commemorate Malaysia's Independence Day. Thirty-eight teams from Malaysia and Indonesia took part.

Indonesia's Bali Jeff Club Team -- Edhi, Ruben, Sebastian, Novian, A Fahmi and Leonard Gultom -- won the Malaysian Open.

They collected 29.0 Master Points and won US$2,000.

Edhi and Ruben played eight games each. Edhi, playing the first board, won best player with 7.5 MP. Ruben, playing the second board, won best player also with 7.5 MP.

Sebastian and Novian played nine and seven games respectively. Sebastian, took the best player title on the third board with 8.0 MP. Novian was nominated best player on the fourth board with 7.0 MP.

Indonesian Chess Federation deputy chairman Cholid Ghozali welcomed the four players home at the airport.

He said their success showed that chess was a sport in which players could constantly improve, and it could enhance Indonesia's international reputation.

"The players have played well and I am proud of them. They have lifted Indonesia's name in the world of chess," Ghozali said. (lnt)