Tirta has yet to earn a point for the Indonesian juniors

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Tirta Chandra established a slightly better position in the opening stage of his chess game in the Japfa Chess Match against Alexandra Kosteniuk here on Wednesday, but a weak move in the middle of the game left him on the losing side.

The two players were involved in the Accepted Queen's Gambit game at the VOC Cafe and Gallery in North Jakarta.

Tirta, who held White, was offensive in his bid to score the Indonesian team's first point against the visiting Russian.

He looked to hold the upper hand with his pin against a Knight, but he slipped up with a Knight's move to the f5 square. Coupled with Kosteniuk's unexpected Rook's march up the c-file, the mistake appeared to be the turning point of the game.

"It was a dubious move. I meant to go to e7, but I overlooked her Rook maneuver," Tirta said in dejection.

Inside the analyzing room, a number of senior grand masters were also upset. They suggested Tirta should have gone for an exchange of the Rooks at the c8 square.

"We lost yet again," Indonesia's coach, GM Utut Adianto said on seeing that Tirta's position was untenable.

Andrean could have saved or at least prolonged the game, but he was unable to find an effective move. He fell further with his Rook escape to g5 on move 31, which Kosteniuk saw as a blunder.

"He had a good position. Rg5 was a blunder, he should have brought it back," she said.

Tirta resigned after 37 moves. Kosteniuk had two marching pawns on the a-file supported by an active Bishop and Knight. Her Rook was also about to join the attack.

At the other end, Tirta's two Rooks were left imprisoned, one at the King's side, the other at the Queen's side.

Kosteniuk has so far chalked up a perfect 3 points.

"It was very hard. I couldn't have expected such results," she said, her mother Natalia Kosteniuk beside her.

Meanwhile, Tirta regretted the missed opportunity to round the game to a probable draw.

"I will try again tomorrow," he said.

However, with Black in the second game on Thursday, he looks set for an even harder game and another 2-0 loss looms above the 16-year-old Indonesian.

Japfa Chess Match (Day 3) White: Tirta Chandra (2102) Black: Alexandra Kosteniuk (2469) Result: 0-1

1. d4-d5 2. c4-e6 3. Nf3-c6 4. Nc3-dxc4 5. a4-Bb4 6. e3-b5 7. Bd2-a5 8. axb5-Bxc3 9. Bxc3-cxb5 10. b3-Bb7 11. d5-Nf6 12. bxc4- b4 13. Bxf6-Qxf6 14. Qa4+-Nd7 15. Nd4-e5 16. Nb3-e4 17. Nd4-Qb6 18. c5-Qxc5 19. Bb5-Qc3+ 20. Kd1-Rd8 21. Rc1-Qa3 22. Qxa3-bxa3 23. d6-a2 24. Ke2-Rc8 25. Nf5-Kd8 26. Rd1-Rc5 27. Nd4-Rxb5 28. Kxb5-Ba6 29. Rd5-Nb6 30. Rf5-g6 31. Rg5-f5 32. g4-Bxb5+ 33. Ke1- Rf8 34. gxf5-Rxf5 35. Rxf5-gxf5 36. Kd2-Bd3 37. Kc3-Na4+ 0-1