Utut to play white pieces against Peng of China

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Grand Master Utut Adianto will play the white pieces in his second-round match against Grand Master Peng Xiaomin of China at the US$3.5 million 2000 FIDE World Championships in New Delhi on Thursday.

"I think I can take advantage of having the white pieces in the first-leg match against Peng, because I have prepared to play the white pieces. It fits my preparations," said a relaxed Utut.

Peng comes into the match with an elo rating of 2657, while Utut's elo stands at 2583.

Utut -- who wrapped up a 1.5-0.5 victory over International Master Imad Hakki of Syria on Tuesday -- spent his day off on Wednesday visiting the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi and meeting with Ambassador Zakaria Suminta Atmadja.

The second-round matches will begin at 1:30 p.m. local time at the Ball Room of the Hyatt Regency in New Delhi.

Utut admitted to being somewhat tense on Wednesday as he waited for the second-round pairings, which could not be released until 30 players in the competition finished their sudden death play-off games.

Citing an example, Indonesian Chess Association spokesman Kristianto Liem said in his report at www.ututadianto.com that Grand Master Jan Ehlvest of Estonia had to play several play-off matches before advancing.

Ehlvest played two 25-minute rapid chess matches against Jesus Nogueiras of Cuba, but still the players remained tied. The organizers the decided the two would play two 15-minute rapid chess matches, but the tie remained.

In a final sudden death match in the which the holder of the white pieces was given five minutes and the holder of the black pieces four minutes, Elhvest was able to vanquish Nogueiras.

All of the play-off matches finished by 9 p.m. local time, after which the organizers began the pairings for the next round.

The second round will see the world's top players join the competition. Grand Master Viswanathan Anand of India will take on GM Viktor Bologan of Moldova, who won the Tan Chin Nam Cup in Beijing in July.

Bologan ousted GM Hannes Stefansson of Iceland on Tuesday 1.5-0.5.

Other interesting matches will feature Ehlvest against GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, GM Alexei Shirov of Spain versus GM Alexander Onischuk of Ukraine and GM Alexander Morozevich of Russia against GM Gilberto Milos of Brazil. (yan)