Young RI chess players set for Dresden

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Official Dresden Olympiad Website: www.Dresden2008.com

Indonesia will send teams made up of young crops to the Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, in November, an official from the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) announced Thursday.

The men's squad will be spearheaded by national Grand master Susanto Megaranto. The other members are Irwanto Sadikin, Johanes Simbolon, Farid Firmansyah and Edhi Handoko.

With the exception of Farid and Edhi, the players were picked to the team because of their strong performances at the recent National Games in East Kalimantan.

"Farid deserves his berth in the team after winning the student world chess championship in Thessaloniki (Greece) last year," Percasi deputy secretary general Sebastian Simanjuntak said.

Veteran Edhi has been named team captain, but may play as a substitute, Sebastian said.

The women's team also abounds with young talent, with Irene Kharisma expected to play a key role and inspire teammates Evie Lindiawati, Dewi Citra, Kadek Iin and Desy Rahmawati.

Sebastian said the next Olympiad, the biennial world chess team competition, would see a change in playing format, with organizers allowing an equal number of men and women players.

"Each country fields five players each in the men's and women's categories. We used to have six men and four women. So there is no disparity between men and women. The number of rounds will also drop from 13 to 11," he said.

In the 2006 competition in Turin, Italy, national chess No. 1 Utut Adianto guided Indonesia to 40th place in the men's division. The women's team also finished in 40th position.

Utut, who has never missed out on Indonesian Olympiad team, will not be going to Dresden because Percasi, which received a pledge of financial support from the sports ministry, has chosen to give preference to younger players.

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