RI chess team loses to Japan

RI chess team loses to Japan

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's chess players got off to a shaky
start in the 34th Chess Olympiad at Istanbul's Convention and
Exhibition Center on Saturday.

The national men's team lost to Japan 1.5-2.5 while the
women's team went down 0.5-2.5 to Rumania.

International Master Danny Juswanto was the only Indonesian to
chalk up a win with the defeat of Tomohiko Matsuo in the men's
competition. Grand Master Ruben Gunawan lost to Akira Watanabe
and International Master Cerdas Barus was beaten by Yuuki Tanaki,
while Hamdani Rubin played a draw with Ryuji Nakamura, as
reported in www.ututadianto.com.

Indonesia's top two grand masters, Utut Adianto and Edhi
Handoko, were benched in the first-round match.

In the women's event, the country's best bet Upi D. Tamin lost
to Cristina Foisor. Rumania inflicted a further blow to Indonesia
when Irina Ionescu Brandis outclassed Yeni Riayaningrum.
Indonesia avoided a complete humiliation when Ai Zakiah held
Elena Cosma to a draw. (ivy)