Utut beats Karpov to level score
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Grandmaster Utut Adianto carved out sweet revenge yesterday for his loss to FIDE world champion GM Anatoly Karpov in the opening game of the Clash of the Titans match at Hotel Omni Batavia.
With the victory, Utut leveled the score at 1-1. Both games were blind chess.
Utut defeated Karpov on the 31st move in 45 minutes of the 50- minute match.
Utut's victory was greeted with applause from assembled spectators, reporters and chess pundits, many of whom said that this was the best match ever seen between the two top grandmasters.
Jamil Jamal, secretary of the Indonesian Chess Association said that Utut showed good technique and was composed throughout the game.
"Utut played very well. He was very calm and did not show he was nervous at all. I considered this the best game I have ever seen," Jamil, who acted as the referee in the match, said.
Another spectator held the same opinion as Jamil, and said that Utut could have beaten Karpov before the 31st move.
"I don't understand why Utut was slow in making his moves. If he had checked Karpov's King with his knight, the game could have ended on the 25th move," an elderly man who remained anonymous told The Jakarta Post.
Karpov, playing with the white pieces, started with an King Indian opening. Utut countered with a Queen's Gambit defense.
In the first 10 minutes of play, Karpov kept the outcome in the balance by pressing Utut with attacks, not giving Utut the opportunity of making counterattacks.
On the 12th move, Utut was surprised when Karpov offered his Queen to Utut's Queen. Utut did not think long and took Karpov's Queen which later was taken by one of Karpov's Castles.
The play became tense when, on the 25th move, Utut checked by using a bishop. This move was considered bright since Utut had his Knight already on standby to force mate if Karpov made a wrong move.
Karpov instead moved a pawn to fend off the bishop. Utut paused for a while, rubbing his head while thinking what move should he make.
On the 29th move, Utut moved a Castle near a Knight. Karpov was astonished and complained that this move was illegal.
Referee Jamil disagreed and said the move was legal.
Then, on the 30th move, Karpov made a blunder by moving his King. Utut used this opportunity to consolidate his position when on the 31st move, he moved a pawn to challenge a Karpov Knight.
Karpov, seeing he had only 58 seconds left, resigned.
"I was prepared for this match. I changed my tactics by sacrificing my Queen. The sacrifice eventually took me to victory," Utut said.
Karpov left the room without making any comments.
Karpov, ranked fourth in the world with an elo rating of 2,745, will be paid US$10,000 for turning up. Utut is 53rd in the world with an elo rating of 2,610.
The winner of the match will receive $30,000 and the loser will receive $10,000.
Today's clash will be a six-hour classical chess game, starting at 2 p.m. It is not known who will make the first move. (lnt)