Dominos Fritz Kilian Nicolas Harahap had an 8-year-stint as a Chairman of Percasi (All Indonesia Chess Federation) during 1956-64. Although he was no longer a Percasi official, he remained as a prominent figure among Indonesian chess community. The event was held by Percasi to pay tribute to him.
The event turned out to be GM Edhi Handoko’s exhibition. He scored mercilessly, 18 VP out of 20 games or 90%. The one man show was easy to predict since no other national chess élite participated. NM Nessy Suheri, NM Cecep Kosasih, and NM Abir Dipo were probably the closest ones that could give Handoko a decent game.
Bojonegoro, a city in East Java, held a national chess event for the first time. The event drew attentions of 80 players from five provinces. The players came from East Java, Central Java, DI Yogyakarta, Bali, and West Nusa Tenggara. The first three provinces practically sent their strongest players.
The old guard was back. It was too early to write off a veteran Arovah Bachtiar although he had been humbled in the last two National Chess Championships by his younger counterpart, IM Ardiansyah. Arovah won the National Championship crown for the fourth time. His first was almost two decades ago in 1953.
The famous Tanah Karo chess player, Monang Sinulingga, quite predictably won the tournament. He played professionally. He didn’t push against the in-form players but was an absolute menace to players in the bottom ten. Monang completed his victory with the Best Game Award for his beautiful win to Fabian Lumentut in round 3.
The question on everybody lips ahead of the National Chess Championship began was, could Ardiansyah defend the title? At the time the reigning champion Ardiansyah was still a teenager, 18 years old. He entered the event as one of the three only Indonesian International Masters following his success in the FIDE Zonal 10 Tournament 1969.
Albeit only three provinces participated, the inaugural of National Women Chess Championship didn’t lack of quality players. Hanik Maria and Mun’yati represented Central Java while Nanik Wijaya led the team of DI Yogyakarta. DKI Jakarta sent their best players in the likes of Betty Pontoh, Imasniti, Tati Nurachmanti, and Darmayanti Tamin.
