Tirta loses again in second game of Japfa Chess Match
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Tirta Chandra lost in his second game to Alexandra Kosteniuk on Thursday, leaving the home side's hopes resting on its last card, Susanto Megaranto, to match the Russian women's grand master in the Japfa Chess Match.
Tirta appeared unable to lift his game from his shaky play the day before. He was forced to resign after 40 moves as Kosteniuk threatened to checkmate him in two moves.
"We were aware from the start that Kosteniuk would be too good for the lads," committee chairman Eka Putra Wirya told the Jakarta Post when asked if the overall result was different from what he had expected.
"This match was too good to miss out on. We will avail of all opportunities, no matter what the results might be. This is a good chance for the lads to build up their experience against a strong player like Kosteniuk," he said.
Tirta opted for a Sicilian defense but after a few moves during the opening stages he found himself trailing in development, basically because he failed to take Kosteniuk's Knight offered as a sacrifice on move 17.
"I guess he should have accepted my offer," Kosteniuk said about Tirta's mistake after the match. She also suggested a number of continuation moves.
Apart from Tirta's underform performance, Kosteniuk proved her quality as the runner-up in the 2002 World Championship.
Right after the start, she gained the advantage of having more free space with her pieces already posted for an attack. She might have had her sacrifice of a Knight rejected, but she then managed to bring it to the King's vicinity, which later proved decisive in the game.
Meanwhile, Tirta was left in an inferior position with his pieces miserably crammed at the back. The King remained at the center, which resulted in the Rooks being deprived of the ability to coordinate each other. The two Bishops were also lame.
He looked desperate in seeking out a chance for a counter attack. Kosteniuk was always able to snuff out Tirta's moves to create a threat.
With her powerful Rooks and the swirling Knight, the 18-year- old Russian brought the game cleverly to a punishing endgame.
Although she played four games in a row, she dispelled all worries that she might tire, which could affect her games against Susanto in the final two days.
"I feel OK. I'm physically ready for the next matches," she said.
Japfa Chess Match (Day 4) White: A. Kosteniuk (2469) Black: Tirta Chandra (2102) Result: 1-0
1. e4-c5 2. Nf3-d6 3. d4-cxd4 4. Nxd4-Nf6 5. Nc3-a6 6. Bg5-e6 7. f4-Be7 8. Qf3-Qc7 9. 0-0-0-Nd7 10. g4-g5 11. Bxf6-Nxf6 12. g5-Nd7 13. f5-Nc5 14. f6-gxf6 15. gxf6-Bf8 16. Rg1-b4 17. Nd5-Qb7 18. Re1-Bd7 19. Ne7-b3 20. cxb3-a5 21. Bc4-a4 22. Kb1-axb3 23. Nxb3- Qb4 24. Rc1-Bh6 25. Rc3-Na4 26. Rc2-Nb6 27. a3-Qa4 28. e5-Rb8 29. Rg4-Qa8 30. Qxa8-Rxa8 31.exd6-Ba4 32. Ka2-Nxc4 33. R(c)xc4-Bxb3 34. Kxb3-Kd7 35. Nxc6-R(h)f8 36. R(g)d4-Be3 37. Ne5+-Kd8 38. Rc7- Rb8 39. Rb4-Rxb4 40. axb4 1-0