Utut to start 2002 with Bukaner Open

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Grand Master (GM) Utut Adianto will open his 2002 campaign at the Bukaner Open in India next week as the Indonesian number one chess master aims to bounce back from last year's dismal run of form.

Utut will be one of 12 foreign grand masters participating in the US$15,000 tournament, which will run from Feb. 19 to 28. One of the foreigners is GM Eugene Torre of the Philippines, who Utut knows well both professionally and away from the chess board.

The local contenders will be spearheaded by GM Krishna Sashikiran, GM Dibyendu Barua and GM Harikrisna.

Utut is hoping the Bukaner Open marks the beginning of a comeback after the disappointments of 2001, which included his failure to qualify for the recently concluded World Chess Championships in Russia.

His current rating of 2587, a drop from his previous level of 2598, is further testament to his lackluster form.

"Take it back," Utut said briefly when asked about his hopes for the 2002 tournament here on Thursday.

"I once dropped to as low as 2570 in 2000. But I was not worried, it is just natural that we experience highs and lows," he told The Jakarta Post when interviewed at the office of the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi).

"What's the significance of the ratings anyhow? Ruslan Ponomariov, who doesn't have a particularly high rating, was still able to become a world champion," he said, referring to the new FIDE champion from Ukraine.

But these comments shouldn't be taken too seriously, as he also said that he was thrilled when he reached his highest ever rating of over 2600.

"I got loads of tournament invitations from all over the place," he said, admitting that he was lucky to have been invited to the next Bukaner Open, where his costs will be fully met.

The next tournament Utut is scheduled to play is in the Czech Republic in March.