Stefanova closer to title at Wismilak chess tournament

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Collecting another one-and-a-half points from the last two rounds, Bulgarian women's Grand Master (GM) Antoaneta Stefanova is almost certain to cruise to the victory at the Wismilak International Chess Tournament.

Stefanova, who has come to Surabaya following her success in the European Championship, has amassed an overall 7.5 points to stay on the top of the provisional standings in the 12-strong competition.

The additional points came from her win over Cecep Kosasih in the ninth round on Sunday and a draw with close rival International Master (IM) Cerdas Barus the day before.

Cecep's defeat has added to the list of local victims at the hands of the European champion.

With Cerdas, who was included in the tournament as a late replacement for Andrean Susilodinata, being one-and-a-half points behind, Stefanova will need only another point from the remaining two matches to snatch the title and a US$2,000 cash payout from the total $6,000 at stake.

Even if she fails, Cerdas will have to win his owns two games against fellow Indonesians Irwanto Sadikin in the tenth round and GM Edhi Handoko in the 11th, to retrieve his hopes.

Cerdas could only add a point from his last two games, drawing with Stefanova and IM Enrique Paciencia of the Philippines.

Given the next pairings, it will not be an easy task for him, particularly in the tenth round matches. Irwanto may already be out of contention for the title, but the Jakarta-based player has his own motivation in the tournament.

Now that he has collected 5 points, he is only one point away from taking his first IM norm.

The Wismilak tournament is an eighth-rated category tournament based on the average of the participants' ratings. It means that a participant will have to collect at least 6 points to be awarded an IM norm.

"I think Irwanto will try not to squander the chance. If he wins over Cerdas, then the last match against Cecep (Kosasih) will be a formality," chess columnist Kristianus Liem told The Jakarta Post.

Another player, who is practically out of contention for the title but is nursing hope, albeit thin, for an IM norm, is Susanto Megaranto, the only junior competing in the tournament.

Susanto, 15, should be content with his collection of 4.5 points, thanks to his rising run in the last two games which took the scalps of Edhi Handoko and FM Hamdani Rudin.

However, Susanto will have to overcome his mentor IM Danny Juswanto. "He has to poach at least half a point from Danny," Kristianus said.

IM Nay Oo Kyaw Tun of Myanmar will be his last opponent.

Provisional standings after nine rounds (Indonesian unless otherwise stated): 1. GM Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) 7,5 pts; 2. IM Cerdas Barus 6 pts; 3. GM Zaw Win Lay (Myanmar) 5,5 pts; 4- 5. FM Irwanto Sadikin, IM Danny Juswanto 5 pts; 6-7. GM Ardiansyah, Susanto Megranto 4,5 pts; 8-9. GM Edhi Handoko, IM Enrique Paciencia (Philippines) 4 pts; 10. FM Hamdani Rudin 3 pts; 11-12. IM Nay Oo Lyaw Tun (Myanmar), Cecep Kosasih 2,5 pts.