Successful in Asia Zone, Utut joins elite circle
Successful in Asia Zone, Utut joins elite circle
JAKARTA (JP): A year of endless efforts deserved a reward as
Indonesia's Utut Adianto finally assured himself of a coveted
place in the world's society of Super Grand Master.
The memorable moment came after his impressive win in the Asia
Zone 3.2 chess tournament in Genting Highland, Malaysia, on
Monday.
Despite an indifferent draw at the 12th move, with his
compatriot Master International Nasib Ginting, in his final game,
Grand Master Utut led the 28-field competition with nine match
points. Filipino Grand Master Result Antonio came second with
7.5, followed by Nasib, who was just half a point behind.
The victory gave Utut 10 extra points to add his previous elo
rating of 2,585. The 30-year-old Indonesian had also reserved
five points after the Olympic of Chess in December, shooting his
rating to a minimum Super Grand Master standard of 2,600 when the
world chess body announces the players' new elo rating next
month.
The Super Grand Master title will earn Utut an automatic entry
into the Interzone championship in August and other world-class
tournaments which feature chess players with elo ratings of no
less than 2,600. The Interzone tournament serves as the
elimination round for the world title match.
Utut's success, to become the first Indonesian to join the
world chess aristocracy, capped a one-year hard-fought, sometimes
frustrating, struggle.
The national number one chess player made his last trial to
better his rating when he challenged American Grand Master Yasser
Seirawan for a duel meet here in November. Utut suffered a 3-1
rout and dropped his 2,690 rating by five points.
Russian-born Australian Irina Berezina took the women's
laurels with 8.5 points in Genting Highland, leading her closest
rival Hoang Than Trang of Vietnam by just half a point.
Indonesia's best, Upi D. Tamin, managed only the fourth spot
after collecting five points.
Meanwhile, eight foreign chess players from India, Pakistan,
Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Singapore will tackle
national talents led by Grand Master Ardiansyah during a week-
long tournament in Yogyakarta, starting today.
The event, featuring competitors with elo rating below 2,500,
who play round-robin matches, is aimed at improving the ratings
of national players. (amd)