Two RI players on top in JAPFA Open

JAKARTA (JP): International Master (IM) Danny Juswanto and IM Cerdas Barus are two Indonesian chess players who stayed in the top position with 6 match points (MP) at the JAPFA International Open 2000 tournament in the Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur, Bali.

Danny, whose elo rating is 2471, got tough resistance from 1998 FIDE world junior champion GM Darmen Sadvakasov (Kazakhstan, 2471) before both players agreed to tie in the 39th move, using the English opening on Tuesday. Sadvakasov stayed in the top position.

Cerdas beat fellow countryman IM Dede Liu (2370) in the 33th move by Grunfeld opening. GM Ian Rogers (Australia, 2562) moved up after beating National Master (NM) Cecep Kosasih after 41 moves using Benko Gambit defense.

Other chess players who share the top position are the 1999 FIDE world junior champion IM Krishnan Sasikiran (India, 2514) who beat FIDE Master (FM) Awam Wahono (West Java, 2405) in the 35th move by Queen Pawn opening; GM Normund Miezis (Latvia, 2486) who beat Indonesian veteran player GM Ardiansyah (2396) in the 41th move by English opening, and IM Bong Villamayor (the Philippines, 2474) who outclassed IM Salor Sitanggang in the 42th move by Reti opening.

Young player Taufik Halay, Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) Master (PM), earned 4.5 MP after he was forced to tie with PM Adang Gumilar in the 45th move by Trompowsky attack opening. (ivy)