Upi, Irene, Evi win opening games

JAKARTA: WIM Upi Darmayana Tamin and fellow Indonesian WFM Irene Kharisma chalked up wins in the opening round of the Women's International Chess Tournament at Kartika Chandra Hotel here on Friday.

Upi defeated WIM Adelaida Zakharova of Russia in 46 moves in their Carokann game while Irene, who at 14 is the youngest among the 12 participants in the planned weeklong event, upset more experienced, fellow Indonesian WIM Lisa Lumongdong in a Sicilian, 80-move game.

Evi Lindiawati stopped Hui Dawn of Singapore in only 19 moves. In the other pairings WGM Nana Alexandria of Georgia beat Sri Vidawati of Indonesia, WIM Jana Krivec of Slovenia edged Stefani Dian Cheri of Indonesia and WIM Angela Khegai of Uzbekistan prevailed over Malaysian Roslina Marmono.

Two rounds will be played on the second day of the US$7,000 11-round tournament on Saturday. --JP