Utut to take part in $40,000 Biel Master

JAKARTA (JP): Grand Master Utut Adianto will again take part in the US$40,000 Biel Master, an invitational meet for super grand masters from July 22 to Aug. 5 in Biel, Switzerland. But this time he himself is one of the super grand masters.

The Indonesian number one chess player has entered the circle of the world's super grand masters after his impressive win at the Asia Pacific Zone 3.2 chess tournament in Genting Highland, Malaysia, last month.

The victory gave Utut 10 extra points to add to his previous elo rating of 2,585. He had also reserved five points after the Chess Olympics in December, shooting his rating to the minimum Super Grand Master standard of 2,600 when the world chess body announces the players' new elo rating next month.

The 30-year-old grand master now ranks 70th in the world. To further boost his ranking, he has to collect at least six points during the 13-round meet.

But Utut is fully aware that he is going to meet tough opponents. Prior to his departure, he expected to be able to collect five points, three by beating three grand masters whose elo ratings were lower than his and the other two by stealing some points from counterparts with higher elo ratings.

"I know it's pretty difficult to score points over those who rank above me. But everything depends on preparation," Utut said.

Utut said he had made 10-day intensive preparations for the meet by studying the games his prospective opponents had played during the 1994-1995 tournament seasons.

The thirteen super grand masters waiting for him in Biel include GM Alexei Shirov of Latvia (2,695), who was ranked second with an elo rating of 2,740 at last year's meet and Alexei Dreev of Rusia (2,670), winner of last year's Wijk aan Zee tournament.

During the meet, Utut will also have chance to retaliate against Boris Gelfland of Belarus (2.685) and Jan Timman of the Netherlands (2.590) for earlier losses. In 1993, Timman challenged world number one Anatoly Karpov for the world championship crown. He also managed to become a finalist for world champion in 1990.

Some other invitees at the meet are Nick de Firmian of the United States (2,605, the world's 49th), Viktor Gavrikov of Kazakhstan (2,605, the world's 50th), Vadim Zvjaginsev of Russia (2,600, the world's 65th) and Julian Hodgson of England (2,590).

Utut, who earned appearance money of US$2,500 for the meet, is scheduled to appear at another chess tournament in Beijing next month.(arf)