Utut back in game, Eddie new Percasi boss

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.