Utut shines in Cakti chess tourney

JAKARTA (JP): Utut Adianto struck back yesterday to regain the sole lead in the Cakti chess tournament in Madras, India, with an impressive sixth-round win over home favorite Varugeese Koshy.

The Indonesian number one grandmaster, who had to share the lead with British grandmaster Anthony Miles on Thursday, attacked rampantly with his black pieces. After just 25 moves, Utut brought the Indian international master to his knees.

The breathtaking win took the 31-year-old Indonesian's cumulative points total to five and demoted Miles, who ended the day drawing with another Indian, Babu Sudhakar, to second place with half a point less.

Taking advantage of playing with the white pieces, Koshy forced the English opening, thereby deterring Utut from developing his favorite strategy, Caro Kann which also earned him a win in the fourth round on Wednesday.

Despite all his efforts to tame Utut's spirited moves, Koshy found his material under siege in the middle of the board after being lured into capturing one of Utut's pawns in the sixth move.

Koshy attempted a kingside castling to save his king. With victory in sight however, Utut refused to give his panting opponent a chance to take breath, directing his attacks on Koshy's king.

On his 19th move, a carefree Utut again forced Koshy to take a pawn sacrifice with his bishop, only to give way to a black knight to infiltrate Koshy's whole defense. By the 25th move, Koshy knew everything was over.

In the seventh round, Utut will play with the advantageous white pieces against grandmaster Niaz Murshed of Bangladesh. (her/arf)

Results: Koshy (Ind) 0 Utut (Ina) 1 Miles (Gbr) 1/2 Sudhakar (Ind) 1/2 Konguvel (Ind) 1 Thipsay (Ind) 0 Ramesh (Ind) 1/2 Lovlu (Bld) 1/2 Tilak (Ind) 0 Prasad (Ind) 1 Murshed (Bld) 1/2 Barua (Ind) 1/2

Standings: 1. Utut 5 2. Miles 4 1/2 3. Murshed 4 4. Prasad 3 1/2

Barua 3 1/2