More than 30 Grandmasters (GM) will take part in the 3rd Indonesia Open Chess Championship, which offers prize money of US$100,000, almost double that of last year’s $55,000.
“To date there are 57 foreign participants – including 35 Grandmasters – from 28 countries, who have confirmed their participation in the event, which will be held on Oct. 9-18 at Grand Sahid Hotel, Jakarta,” head of the event’s organizing committee Ita Gayatri told a press conference on Friday.
They include the world’s chess greats of GM Alexander Moiseenko of the Ukraine, GM Nigel Short of the UK, GM Alexey Dreev of Russia and Surya Sekhar Ganguly of India.
“Our latest woman grandmaster [WGM] Medina Warda Aulia will also take part in this year’s event,” Indonesian Chess Association head Hashim S. Djodjohadikusumo said.
The total score of 7 points from 10 in 13 rounds earned Medina her third WGM norm, after she recorded her first and second norms in Singapore in 2011 and Russia in 2012.
A chess player has to book a set of three WGM norms – defined as a high level of performance in a chess tournament – for a full WGM title, as required by the international chess authority FIDE.
Medina is Indonesia’s youngest player to attain a WGM title. She has done so at the age of 16 years, two months and 16 days.
Irene Kharisma Sukandar, the only other active Indonesian WGM player, achieved the title at the age of 16 years, seven months and 18 days at the Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, in 2008
“I hope more Indonesian chess players, including junior players, can take part in this event as this is an event where they can play with the world’s best players,” said Hashim.
He expected that playing with world class chess players could motivate Indonesian chess players and sharpen up their skills.
