The not-given-much-chance IM Denny Juswanto delivered a stellar performance by topping the table. He was unbeatable in 13 games and scored his first GM norm. Two other Indonesian players Cecep Kosasih and Yoseph Majella had their shares of success with IM norms. India’s GM Krishnan Sasikiran failed to live up his 2600+ rating.
Semarang II team won the event ahead of more favorable Semarang I. The members of the team were Saiful Fajar, Yusuf Hermawan, Sutrisno, Sujatmoko, and Naning. This is an example of “one game only” events on IndonesiaBase. Please help to improve IndonesiaBase by contributing some games.
Arovah Bachtiar equaled Béla Berger in the play-off rounds but the latter went through to the Interzonal Championship because he had better tie-break in previous qualification rounds. Another Indonesian player, the future successful lawyer Lim Hong Gie (aka Lugito Hayadi), was in the third place. Narrowly missed by half points.
18 years old Susanto Megaranto took home the cup with 12 VP, one and half points ahead his seniors IM Nasib Ginting and FM Awam Wahono. Arif Yanuar of DIY became the winner of the shortest game. His opponent got disqualified before even moved the pieces because his cell phone rang.
The event was series of match between vice Women World Champion IM Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia and three Indonesian young talents Andrean Susilodinata, Tirta Chandra Purnama, and Susanto Megaranto. Lady with a mission Alexandra Kosteniuk showed a class of her own by winning all the games.
Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine visited Netherlands Indies (now Indonesia) in 1930. At that time he was the World Champion. We found only one game from his simultaneous exhibition held at the city of Surabaya. In that game Alekhine won rather easily against Prof Willem Frederik Wertheim.
Three best Indonesian players joined three world class women players to participate in this unique event. Indonesian players were hand in hand to lift GM Utut Adianto to the top spot but failing miserably. Adianto got 3.5 points of possible 4 from Indonesian players. Another sad day for fair play.
