Ten best chess players to get monthly salaries

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chess Association will choose the country's 10 best players, after its three grand masters, and give them a monthly salary based on their rankings.

Eka Putra Wirya, the association's technical director, said Tuesday the 10 players would be selected in a seven-round match starting April 19.

"Percasi has asked 30 players to take part in the selection matches. The players must have an elo rating above 2,300 to participate in the seven-round matches which will use the Swiss system," Eka said.

After the matches, the 11 players with the most points will contest a special round, in which two Indonesian grandmasters, Edhi Handoko and Ardiansyah, and one foreigner will also play.

"The special round will use a round robin system to select only 10 players. GM Utut Adianto will not compete in the selection," Eka said.

The top player will receive a monthly salary of Rp 750,000 and the other nine will each receive Rp 200,000 a month.

Cholid Ghozali, the association's deputy chairman, said Utut would receive a monthly salary of Rp 1 million although he would not compete in the selection matches.

"The monthly salaries of the 10 players are only valid for four months, because every four months we will hold a promotion and demotion tournament. It is possible that the 10 players will be replaced by others who have gained promotions," Cholid said.

Eka said there would be an open tournament on April 19 for women to gain national masters titles. "We will choose the 17 best (non-national) players in Indonesia. Of the 17, we will then select the five best players (to receive titles)."

The best five will then play four national players: MI Upi Darmayana Tamin, MI Lisa K. Limondong, MI Maria Ratna Lucia and MI Lindri Widjajanti.

"Since this is an open tournament, everybody is allowed to participate," Eka said. (lnt)