Utut back in game, Eddie new Percasi boss

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia's No. 1 chess grandmaster Utut Adianto is looking to concentrate more on his chess game after his interim chairmanship of the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) ended here on Sunday.

Eddie Widiono, 52, was unanimously elected the new chairman of Percasi during the association's extraordinary meeting at the Kartika Chandra Hotel here on Sunday.

"All delegates from 29 provinces threw their support behind Pak Eddie to lead Percasi for the next four-year term," Utut told The Jakarta Post.

Utut had been in the top post of the association in a caretaker role, following the abrupt resignation of Jeffrie Geovanie last November.

Many figures had been approached to lead the organization but none had accepted until Eddie was asked.

Among the names were Minister of Mines and Energy Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Minister of Cooperation and Small Enterprises Suryadarma Ali and Constitutional Court head Jimly Assiddiqie.

"Now that we have a permanent chairman, I want to concentrate on the game," Utut said.

Utut said during his chairmanship he had little time to practice for the next Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila in November, where he will be the Indonesian team's best bet.

"It was not an easy task to manage Percasi. I had little time for practice. I also have responsibility in the team's race for a gold medal at the SEA Games," he said.

Utut won gold in the last SEA Games in Vietnam.

He said that with Eddie, who is also the director of State Electricity Agency (PLN), the new chairman, Percasi's members would be expected to perform better internationally.