Utut draws with Hracek in latest cup match

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's top player Utut Adianto blew away his chance to score a win in the eighth round of the MK Cafe Cup in Koszalin, Poland on Tuesday and had to settle for a draw with Zbynek Hracek of the Czech Republic.

The two Super Grand Masters agreed to an equal ending, to Utut's disappointment, after 66 moves of a game that lasted nearly six hours.

"I could have won the game, had he failed to neutralize my attacks after the 38th move," Utut said in his statement made available to The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Playing white, Utut took total control on the 24th move with a pawn sacrifice that opened the way for attacks. A cool Hracek slowed down Utut with two brilliant defensive maneuvers on the 35th and 38th moves.

Utut, hoping that his Czech opponent would blunder, then barely managed to pressure him.

The draw leaves Utut and Hracek in a nine-way tie for the third place in the provisional standings with 5.5 points. The pack also includes GM Alexander Beljavski, GM Michal Krasenkov, GM Jaan Ehlvest, GM Emil Sutovsky, GM Sarunas Sulskis, GM Rogozenko and IM Bartosz Socko.

GM Igor Khenkin of Israel moved closer to the championship trophy and the winner's US$5,000 purse after beating Sulskis Tuesday. With just two games remaining, the Israeli now has seven points after six wins and two draws.

GM Igor Novikov of Ukraine is second, one point behind. He beat GM Edvins Kengis in another match of the day.

Other results from Tuesday were (first names play white): GM Jacek Gdanski-Krasenkov 0-1, International Master Markowski-GM Sergei Movsesian 0.5-0.5, Beljavski-GM Petr Haba 1-0, GM Michal Brodksy-Ehlvest 0-1, GM Alexander Volzhin-GM Eduardus Rozentalis 0.5-0.5, Sutovsky-IM Podgaets 1-0, Rogozenko-GM Kreinys 1-0, Socko-GM Vanlin 1-0.

Chess observer Kristianus Liem predicted yesterday that Utut's chance to win were looking dim after Tuesday's draw.

"My most optimistic estimate is that Utut will finish second, provided he sweeps the last two matches and Novikov loses at least once or draws both games," Kristianus told the Post. (lnt)