Utut draws in Biel third round

Utut draws in Biel third round

JAKARTA: Grand Master (GM) Utut Adianto of Indonesia was held
to a draw by International Master (IM) Julen Arizmendi of Spain
in the third round of the Biel Open chess tournament in Biel,
Switzerland, on Wednesday.

"With black pieces against Arizmendi, I used a Sicilian Dragon
defense. After battling for six hours and 45 minutes, a draw was
unavoidable in 102 moves," Utut said in a release.

Seven players led at the top with three points each. Utut, who
won the previous two rounds, were tied on 2.5 points with other
nine players.

The Biel Open, where Utut was champion in 1994, has drawn 114
players from 28 countries. --JP

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ANPAs..r..
Putbrief-Auto-Sentul
Sentul to host FIM Asia event
JP/9/BRIEF

Sentul to host FIM Asia event

JAKARTA: The Sentul circuit will stage the second series of
the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship, from Aug. 1 to 3,
according to a release from the circuit management.

The motorbike competition will contest the Supersport 600cc
and Underbone 125cc with riders expected to come from Malaysia,
Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Singapore, South Korea,
Australia, England and Indonesia.

The first of four series of the Asian Karting Open
Championship will also be staged on the same dates.

The management has also announced two domestic events --
Touring Car and Drag Bike -- in the following two weeks as part
of the circuit's 10th year anniversary. --JP

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Putbriefs-GolfSeniors
Nicklaus and Watson's Turnberry duel preserved in history
JP/9/Brief

Turnberry duel preserved in history

TURNBERRY, Scotland: The 18th hole at Turnberry is to be
renamed the "duel in the sun" in honor of Jack Nicklaus and Tom
Watson's classic 1977 battle for the British Open title at the
Scottish course.

The two giants, who will go head to head once more in the
British Seniors Open here from Thursday, matched each other
stroke for stroke over the opening three rounds of possibly the
greatest Open ever.

But it was Watson who finally won out by a single stroke with
a final round 65 for the second of his five Open titles.

Also in the field for this week's million-pound (US$1.6
million) Seniors Open are nine other major winners: Bob Charles,
Hale Irwin, Tony Jacklin, Andy North, Tom Kite, Arnold Palmer,
Gary Player, Craig Stadler and Fuzzy Zoeller. --AFP

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Putbriefs-NHL-Signings
Ducks agree terms with Vishnevski in day of signings
JP/9/Brief

Ducks agree terms with Vishnevski

ANAHEIM, California: A spate of signings were announced by NHL
teams on Wednesday, with the Stanley Cup finalist Anaheim Mighty
Ducks agreeing terms with restricted free agent defenseman Vitaly
Vishnevski for another year.

The fifth overall pick in the 1998 draft, Vishnevski appeared
in all 21 post-season games, collecting one assist and serving
six penalty minutes.

The Ducks also picked up the option on the contract of
goaltender Martin Gerber, who backed up playoffs MVP Jean-
Sebastien Giguere last season. --Reuters

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Putbriefs-Soccer-Villa
Villa snaps up McCann for 2.25m pounds
JP/9/Brief

Villa snaps up McCann for 2.25m pounds

BIRMINGHAM, England: Aston Villa has agreed a 2.25-million-
pound fee for Sunderland midfielder Gavin McCann in what is
expected to the first in a series of high-profile exits from the
Stadium of Light.

McCann, a tough-tackling midfield enforcer, will become David
O'Leary's first signing for Villa provided he can agree personal
terms.

He had been at Sunderland, who are on the brink of
administration after being relegated last season, since 1998
after moving from Everton for 500,000 pounds. --AFP

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Putbriefs-Oly-2004-countries
Athens Olympics biggest ever
JP/9/Brief

Athens Olympics biggest ever

ATHENS: A record 201 countries will compete in the 2004 Athens
Olympics -- two more than at the 2000 Sydney Games, organisers
said Wednesday.

Newly-recognised Olympic countries East Timor, granted
independence from Indonesia in 2002, and Kiribati, a scattered
central Pacific atoll nation, make their Games' debuts.

Afghanistan, suspended in 1999 for the Taliban ban on women,
return for the first time since the 1996 Atlanta Games after the
International Olympic Committee lifted the ban in June. --AFP