Tougher tests await Irene in bid for international glory
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Teen chess prodigy Irene Kharisma lived up to the huge expectations of her last week by taking a major step toward becoming the country's first women's grand master.
Irene, who will only turn 14 next April, collected an International Master norm with 7.5 points from 11 rounds at the Jababeka Women's International Chess Tournament. She was the top finisher among local players, placing third in the 12-women contest which ended on Thursday.
It's a promising start, but there is a long road ahead.
To become a full IM, a player needs to win three norms, an accreditation earned from good results in three recognized events, comprising at least 27 rounds.
An IM rating would be followed by pursuit of a GM title, with similarly tough requirements.
The weight of expectations can be overwhelming, especially for someone so young, but Irene has set herself a deadline to achieve her goal.
"Two years -- I want to achieve it within two years," Irene said after her tie game against eventual champion Jana Krivec of Slovenia in the final round of the Jababeka tournament.
With the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) pledging their commitment, the financial burden of international travel to tournaments is not a problem.
"The next task for us will be how to focus on preparing the players for their next tournaments," the association's executive chairman, Eka Putra Wirya, said.
The Jababeka tournament, the first women's international event here since 1997, is part of a campaign by Percasi to produce a WGM, with Irene figuring prominently in the plan.
Irene's results have fueld that trust. She won a silver medal and FIDE Master title at the Chess Olympiad in Mallorca, Spain, last year.
Heading to the Jababeka tournament, she won the under-16 title at the ASEAN championship in Pattaya, Thailand, and took fourth in the under-14 event in the World Youth Chess Championship in Belfort, France.
Along with other teammates preparing for November's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, she took part in world qualifying matches in Kuala Lumpur but was no match for the mighty Vietnamese. They swept the top five places.
She impressed at the Jababeka event, recouping from back-to- back losses in the middle of the tournament for a strong finish.
Irene was particularly oustanding in her game against Georgian Nana Alexandria, a two-time finalist in the world championship when she represented the then Soviet Union.
She went on the attack and put the pressure on the 56 year old before the Georgian escaped with a draw.
"For me, it was unexpected that Irene could play really well," Alexandria said. "She really impressed me. This young girl looks very promising, and I think she has a good chess future."
Alexandria, who finished runner-up, acknowledged that the Indonesian teenager had been a serious threat to her and Krivec.
"She was not lucky in the middle of the tournament. Otherwise, she could have fought for first place."
Irene, who is in her third year of junior high school, learned a lot from the tournament.
"I will be back in training and evaluate my game hoping that I will be able to mend my weaknesses. I guess I still lack patience."
Irene's next challenge will be at the SEA Games in the Philippines, where another IM norm will also be on offer. However, the region's dominant Vietnamese women will stand in her way.