Utut meets Fridman in Fide championships

Utut meets Fridman in Fide championships

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Grand Master (GM) Utut Adianto
starts the World Cup Fide chess championships in Las Vegas,
Nevada, July 29 to Aug. 30, meeting International Master (IM)
Daniel Fridman of Latvia.

Although Fridman is an IM, his elo rating is equal to a GM of
2529. Utut's rating is higher than Fridman's by 86 points or
2615.

Utut said he was confident he could beat Fridman.

"On paper, I can beat Fridman. GM Wang Zili of China is
considered a tough player for me and GM Nigel Short of England is
my biggest rival. I have never won over Short," Utut said.

Fridman competed in the 1.7 zone championships which was
participated by three former Soviet Union states Estonia, Latvia
and Lithuania. In the championships, Fridman won second place
behind GM Jaan Elhvest. Elhvest was a member of the world team
which played against Indonesia in a tournament on Bali in April.

The World Cup Fide championship will use the knock down system
where losers are ousted from the championships. Cash prizes
totaling US$3 million (Rp 21 billion) will be awarded to the
winners. Players who lose in the first round will receive $6,000
each while those who enter the second round will get $12,000
each.

If Utut wins over Fridman, Utut plays Short. In the 1997 world
championships at Groningen, the Netherlands, Short lost to GM
Michael Adams in the semifinals. Short is included among the
seeded players at the World Cup Fide championships.

Prior to the championships, Utut will leave for Bali on
Wednesday for a 10-day training at Bedugul. (lnt)