'Ruthless' Kosteniuk takes the day at Japfa chess meet
'Ruthless' Kosteniuk takes the day at Japfa chess meet
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Alexandra Kosteniuk appeared ruthless in her quest to be the
reigning queen of the Japfa Chess Match, which ended here on
Saturday.
The Russian women's grand master steamrolled right over the
three Indonesians, winning all six games, with the latest victim
being Susanto Megaranto.
Despite the dismal performance, Indonesian team officials put
on a brave face, saying they were not too concerned at the
results.
"Although I had expected at least half a point from each
pairing, I'm not disappointed with the results. The lads tried
their best. Kosteniuk was exceptionally outstanding," committee
chairman Eka Putra Wirya said.
"The lads should learn much from the matches. They must have
recognized their weak points in the end game. We will be looking
at how to improve," he added.
Susanto, playing Black, was put under severe pressure by
Kosteniuk and had little time to recoup before resigning in 50
moves.
GM Utut Adianto, who trained Susanto before the matches, was
visibly shocked at the outcome.
"The results were very displeasing. But I warn against judging
performance blindly from the results because bringing Kosteniuk
here will have long-term benefits," he said.
On Kosteniuk's performance, he said that being the world
runner-up, the Russian was one or two levels above the Indonesian
trio.
"But it does not mean the boys cannot match her at all. We had
better positions in three games with White, but they lacked
toughness at crucial moments and lost," Utut added.
Unlike the previous game, Susanto looked more easily beaten in
his second game at the VOC Cafe and Gallery on Saturday.
The turning point of the game was when Susanto provoked his
opponent into a fierce battle with his 19th move. Although
observers said it was a notebook move, Susanto was beginning to
suffer from painful pressure.
Kosteniuk had more space to maneuver her pieces, while Susanto
appeared to be preoccupied with the threat of checkmate.
She began her onslaught with her Queen at move 33, which
caused Susanto, who was already a pawn down, to lose another pawn
in the following two moves. And another two not long after.
The game ended to applause from the large audience.
"They just have to work hard in the future and I wish success
may be with them in the future," she said when asked about the
Indonesians' performance in all matches.
Japfa Chess Match
White: A. Kosteniuk (2469)
Black: Susanto Megaranto (2364)
Day 6: Caro-Kann Defense
Result: 1-0
1. e4-c6 2. d4-d5 3. Nd2-dxe4 4. Nxe4-Bf5 5. Ng3-Bg6 6. h4-h6 7.
Nf3-Nd7 8. h5-Bh7 9. Bd3-Bxd3 10. Qxd3-e6 11. Bd2-Qc7 12.
0-0-0-0-0-0 13. Ne4-Nf6 14. g3-Nxe4 15. Qxe4-Nf6 16. Qe2-Bd6 17.
c4-c5 18. Kb1-cxd4 19. Nxd4-Bxg3 20. Nb5-Qe5 21. Nxa7+-Kb8 22.
Be3-Bf4 23. Nb5-Be3 24. fxe3-Ne4 25. Rxd8-Rxd8 26. Rd1-Rxd1 27.
Qxd1 28. Kc1-e5 29. b4-g3 30. Qd3-Qc6 31. hxg6-fxg6 32. c5-g5 33.
Qd8+-Qc8 34. Qe7-Ka8 35. Qxe5-Nf2 36. Qc3-Kb8 37. Qd2-Qh8 38.
Qd6+-Ka8 39. Kb1-Ne4 40. Qd3-Qf6 41. Qa3+-Kb8 42. Qa7+-Kc8 43.
Qa8+-Kd7 44. Qb7+-Kd8 45. Qd5+-Kc8 46. Na7+-Kb8 47. Nc6+-Kc7 48.
Qxe4-Qxc6 49. Qxc6+-Kxc6 50. Kc2 1-0