Utut draws with Karpov in 4th round

Utut draws with Karpov in 4th round

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Grand Master Utut Adianto's game
against FIDE world champion GM Anatoly Karpov ended in a
surprising draw in the fourth round of the Clash of the Titans at
Omni Batavia Hotel yesterday.

Utut offered to draw after the 45th move which was accepted by
Karpov. The draw occurred as both players sacrificed their two
Castles, leaving no way for a checkmate.

With the draw, Utut leads over Karpov 2.5-1.5 after winning
two games against one loss.

Utut said Saturday he had wished for a draw.

"A draw is already enough for me, since it can give me spirit
for Monday's last two matches," Utut said.

Today's two matches are the final in the duel match. Both
matches will feature rapid chess. Each match will last 25
minutes.

Indosiar will broadcast today's rapid chess matches live from
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Utut will play the first match with the white piece and Karpov
will take the white in the second match.

Karpov started yesterday's match with the white piece. His
first move was not from the book and Utut replied with a Benoni
defense.

Both players continuously attacked each other with a variety
of moves until the 36th move. In the 37th move, Utut checked
Karpov's King which was in line with the Queen. Karpov moved his
King and Utut took the Queen which was taken by the Castle.

Utut, relying on his two Castles, played the game calmly by
moving the Castles in different directions and not allowing
Karpov to check the King.

In the 40th move, both Karpov and Utut sacrificed their two
Castles in exchange for Utut's two pawns. The two pawns
eventually were to become Queens but were blocked by Karpov's
King.

The 41st, 42nd, 43rd and 44th moves were useless moves as
Karpov was only left with a Bishop and two pawns compared to Utut
with five pawns. Wherever Karpov moved his Bishop or his pawns,
there was no way Karpov could check Utut.

In the 45th move, Utut offered a draw and Karpov accepted it.

Yesterday's game was hailed by chess pundits as remarkable.

National Master Bing Sardjono said that Utut rightly decided
to end in a draw because the match could not be extended further.

"Utut saw that if Karpov did not agree to the draw, Karpov may
have lost the game. So, Utut's offer for a draw was the right
choice," Bing said.

Bing added that Utut was fully prepared for yesterday's match
and was consistent throughout the four-hour match. "Utut did not
make any blunders and his moves were brilliant."

GM Ardiansyah hoped that Utut would use the same strategies in
today's remaining matches.

"I hope the strategies he used today (Sunday) will be applied
in Monday's (today's) matches. I don't want to comment on who
will win but of course I am in favor of Utut," said Ardiansyah.

Utut did not comment after the game, only to analyze his game
against Karpov.

Utut also did not want to predict who would be victorious in
today's games.

The duel match, sponsored by the Tamara Group, offers
US$30,000 to the winner and $20,000 to the loser. (lnt)