Utut scores hat trick at Biel Masters c'ship
Utut scores hat trick at Biel Masters c'ship
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Grand Master Utut Adianto scored a
hat trick in the Biel Masters chess championship in Switzerland
on Wednesday with a win over International Master Dejan Antic of
Yugoslavia.
Despite playing black, Utut showed a flair that drew the
praise of chess enthusiasts watching the tournament. Local media
has dubbed Utut Mr. Iron Determination on account of his cool
head.
Utut and Antic stood equal after the first 13 moves of the
game in which they both used the Queen Indian defense.
Antic attempted a new but makeshift variant in the 14th move
which proved fatal. He later admitted to having learned the
variant from Indian Grand Master Viswanathan Anand's 1996 defeat
of world champion Anatole Karpov before Wednesday's game.
Utut then took total control of the match and Antic's
resignation became a simple matter of time. Playing under
persistent attack from Utut, the Yugoslavian gave up after 36
moves and three hours and 45 minutes.
The victory left Utut perched on top of the leader board along
with Alexander Mikhaelevsky of Israel, the only other player to
have maintained a 100 percent record in the tournament. The two
will square off in the fourth round.
Russian-born Mikhaelevsky beat fellow International Master
Tomas Polak of the Czech Republic.
Utut defeated Grand Master Neboisa Ilijin of Rumania in the
first round on Monday and International Master Hans Juerg Kaenel
of Switzerland in the second round on Tuesday.
Other results on Wednesday included Portisch of Hungary's
defeat of Benital of France, Tukmakov of the Ukraine's defeat of
Nernet from Switzerland and Kallai of Hungary's victory over his
Swiss opponent Liardet.
Portisch, Tukmakov, Pavolvic, Kallai, Pikula and Cherniaev
share second place in the provisional standings with 2.5 points
apiece.
A total of 58 players from 15 countries are competing in the
tournament which has a 42,000 Swiss francs purse. Of the 58, 13
hold the title of Grand Master, including one female. Fourteen
International Masters and five International Chess Federation
(FIDE) Masters are also competing.
The winner will earn 7,000 Swiss francs. (lnt)