Susanto opens up 2-0 lead over Dao in Japfa matchup

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

GM Susanto Megaranto was in command from the outset to notch a routine win over GM Dao Thien Hai on Tuesday, taking a 2-0 lead in their matchup in the Japfa Chess Festival.

Susanto, with white, forced a lackluster Dao to give up after 35 moves of the Sicilian game.

After an upset win with black on the opening day, Susanto was brimming with confidence in the best-of-six-match series.

Midway through the match, the 17-year-old Indonesian forced a swap of the queens to seize commanding space at the center, followed by the seizure of a rook for a bishop.

"Dao had no better options. He could have taken another move, but that wouldn't have been able save his game altogether," Susanto said.

Trailing in pieces quality, Dao, whose past record includes taking the 1993 world under-16 championship, tried to withstand the onslaught but to no avail. Susanto effectively used his rook in defense, with his other rook helping the knight in a rampage of Dao's pawns on the queen's side.

Dao also put Susanto under threat of being checkmated but the latter had prepared a refutation move with his rook, leaving the Vietnamese no other choice but to surrender.

The two players remained on stage for about half an hour to analyze the game.

When asked about the result, Dao simply shrugged his shoulders.

Officials said they were surprised by the Indonesian's strong showing.

"I didn't expect Susanto would take a 2-0 lead," tournament director Eka Putra Wirya said. "Anyway, Susanto has showed his maturity in play. He was able to capitalize on his opponent's mistakes. That's a quality a chess player must possess."

While acknowledging Susanto's success, GM Utut Adianto warned him against becoming complacent.

"Susanto must still be alert. The contest still has another four games. Dao is a strong player, and he may strike back any time," said Utut, who was denied a place in the 2001 world championship after losing to Dao.

In the Open category competition, which is scheduled to be played in nine rounds, 23 players were tied on three points after three rounds. In the 12-strong women's competition Lisa Lumongdong and Irene Kharisma shared the top place with three points each.

Top seed Danny Juswanto, who was a no-show on opening day, turned up on Tuesday and won both rounds. Danny said his absence on Monday was due to his father's illness.