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

;JP;MFD; 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

;AFP; ANPAs..r.. 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

;REUTERS; ANPAs..r.. 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

;AFP; ANPAs..r.. 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

;AFP; ANPAs..r.. 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