Susanto burnt up by Russian's blistering manuever

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia's hopes crumbled at the Japfa Chess Match in North Jakarta on Friday, when Susanto Megaranto failed to withstand Alexandra Kosteniuk's mating net in their first game.

But 15-year-old Susanto proved he was not easily beaten, forcing the 18-year-old Russian women's grand master to 71 moves, in more that three and half hours.

Friday's see-sawing game was the contest's tightest ever, lasting three and a half hours and drawing a large crowd. Before Susanto, Andrean Susilodinata and Tirta Chandra had featured, all losing out in their two respective games.

A number of senior chess players gathered inside the VOC Cafe and Gallery's analyzing room praised the quality of the match.

"This was the game at the highest level," Grand Master Utut Adianto said after the contest.

Kosteniuk said the game appeared at one stage to be heading for a draw.

"But I could not stop. I just wanted to play on. At one time I had a winning position, but I could not find a winning move. I don't know why. I think it needs an analysis," she said.

The game, which ran in a Sicilian Najdorf defense, came to a close with Susanto holding a pawn up, but he seemed to be developing an inferior position.

When she saw a winning chance, Kosteniuk liquidated the Bishops, leaving each side with one Queen.

But Kosteniuk's Queen was freer than Susanto's and she launched a lethal attack at Susanto's defense which saw the King cornered at the back.

However, Susanto could have saved the game, according to Utut, who had coached the Indonesian for the match.

"Why did he move the King to the h3 square? He should have at one time traveled to and fro between g1 and g2 and it was a draw," he said.

Susanto looked upset after the game, saying that he thought the square was immune to mate.

"I did not see it was a mate there," he said, given Utut's criticism.

Susanto and Kosteniuk will play the second game on Saturday, with the Indonesian teenager holding Black.

Japfa Chess Match White: Susanto Megaranto (2364) Black: WGM A. Kosteniuk (2469) Day 5: Sicilian Najdorf Result: 0-1

1. e4-c5 2. Nf3-d6 3. d4-cxd4 4. Nxd4-Nf6 5. Nc3-g6 6. Be2-Bg7 7. 0-0-Nc6 8. Nb3-0-0 9. e3-Be6 10. f4-a5 11. a4-Rc8 12. Bf3-Nd7 13.Kh1-Nb6 14. Bxb6-Qxb6 15. Nd5-Bxd5 16. exd5-Nd4 17. Nxd4-Bxd4 18. c3-Bf6 19. Qe2-Rc5 20. g3-Qc7 21. Ra3-Rb8 22. Rb3-Rc4 23. Ra1-Kg7 24. Rb5-h5 25. h4-Re8 26. Kg2-b6 27. Qd3-Rc5 28. Re1-Rc8 29. Re4-Qb7 30. Re2-Rxb5 31. axb5-Qc7 32. Re4-Qd7 33. Re2-a4 34. c4-Qc7 35. Rc2-Ra8 36. Qa3-Bd4 37. Rc1-Ra7 38. Bd1-Kh7 39. Bxh5- Bc5 40. Qd3-a3 41. b3-Qd7 42. Ra1-a2 43. b4-Bxb4 44. Bd1-e5 45. fxe5-Qe7 46. Qe2-dxe4 47. Rxa2-Rxa2 48. Qxa2-e4 49. Qe2-Qe5 50. Qf2-f5 51. Be2-Bc5 52. Qf4-Qd4 53. Qc7+-Kg8 54. Qb8+-Bf8 55. Qe8- Kg7 56. h5-gxh5 57. Bxh5-Qf6 58. Qd7+-Kh6 59. Qc6-Bd6 60. Qe8-Qg7 61. Qe6+-Kxh5 62. Qxd6-Qb2+ 63. Kh3-Qc1 64. Kg2-Qd2+ 65. Kh3-Qe1 66. Kg2-Qe2+ 67. Kh3-Qf1+ 68. Kh2-Qf2+ 69. Kh1-e3 70. Qc7-Kg4 71. Qg7+-Kf3 0-1