Short due here for chess duel

Short due here for chess duel

JAKARTA (JP): Grand Master Nigel Short of England is scheduled to arrive here on Dec. 17 for a six-round duel with Indonesia number one GM Utut Adianto from Dec. 21 to Dec. 28.

The duel is part of Utut's efforts to boost his elo rating and part of his preparations for the 1995-1997 interzonal chess tournament in Yerevan, Armenia, in April next year. The tournament is just one leg of the world chess championship.

Utut is ranked 50th in the world, Short 19th. Utut's elo rating is 2,590, Short's is 2,645, according to last year's standing. But their actual elo ratings -- their wins throughout this year -- are 2,610 and 2,665.

Utut has played Short three times before, winning on two occasions. Utut beat Short for the first time at the Chess Olympics in Moscow last year.

The winner will receive US$15,000, the loser $10,000. In addition, both are also entitled to the so-called "grandmaster fees", or appearance money. The amount is $5,000 for Short and $3,000 for Utut.

Utut's last duel was against Syrian-born American grandmaster, Yasser Seirawan, to whom he succumbed 2-4 last year. Short's career peaked when he took on world champion Garry Kasparov in July 1993 but was stopped short at 7.5-12.5 by the Ukrainian. (arf)