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)