Seeded players checked in selection tourney

Seeded players checked in selection tourney

JAKARTA (JP): Three seeded men's players -- Grand Master (GM)
Ardiansyah, GM Ruben Gunawana and International Master (IM) Danny
Juswanto -- had a rough go of it on their first day of play at
the 34th Chess Olympic Games national selection tournament on
Thursday.

Ardiansyah of Jakarta fell to National Master (NM) Yansen
Lokanata of East Java in the 38th move. Yansen's victory was
driven by the Sicilia defense the player employed.

Ardiansyah, who has been part of the Indonesian contingent to
the Olympics since the 1970s, must win their match on Friday to
force a play-off.

Ruben of Jakarta managed a tie with NM Nessy Suheri in the
61st move with the Queen Indian defense. Danny forced a tie with
1998 national champion NM Suyud Hartoyo of East Java in the 48th
move with the Caro Kann defense.

Another seeded player, GM Edhi Handoko, crushed NM Deni
Sonjaya in 24 moves with the Four Horses opening.

Sixteen of the 24 players who began the tournament are
competing for four tickets to the Olympic Games in Istanbul from
Oct. 28 to Nov. 14, according to the spokesman of the Indonesian
Chess Association (Percasi), Kristianus Liem.

The four will join GM Utut Ardianto and IM Cerdas Barus, who
received automatic places on the Olympics team. Utut has the
highest elo rating in the country and Cerdas is the 1999 national
champion.

The 1999 women's national champion, NM Ai Zakiah, and IM Upi
Darmayana D. Tamin, who has the country's highest elo rating
among women, also received automatic positions on the team. Two
players will join them at the conclusion of the selection
tournament at F Sumanti Chess House, Central Jakarta, on Aug. 10.

On the women's side, four players stand atop the standings
with 2.5 match points. NM Suyati of Central Jakarta and NM
Yulianti Tjindarbumi, who lead the standings at the end of play
on Wednesday, tied in the 36th move on Thursday using the Dutch
defense.

NM Susianah Handayani of Jakarta moved to the top of the
standings after defeating NM Trihoni Nalesti Dewi of Central Java
in the 49th move with the French defense. Rounding out the top of
the leader board is Percasi Master Yenny Riayaningrum of East
Java, who overcame NM Nur Hasanah of Central Jakarta on Thursday
in the 34th move using the Reti opening. (ivy)