Palembang (UR): The Indonesian chess contingent to the 26th SEA Games plans to win two of the nine gold medals on offer at the Hotel
Swarna Dipa in
Palembang starting on Saturday.
"We hope we can get two gold medals,” Indonesia chess team manager Ricardo, who was accompanied by the chairman of the development and achievement board of the All Indonesian Chess Association (
Percasi),
Kristianus Liem, said in
Palembang on Friday.
He added that one of the two gold medals would probably come from Women’s Grand Master (
WGM)
Irine Kharisma Sukandar from the women’s individual standard, while the other would come from GM
Susanto Megaranto.
Indonesia’s chess contingent comprises eight men and six women. The lineup includes GM
Cerdas Barus, International Master (IM)
Dede Liu and IM
Tirta Chandra
Purnama on the men’s side, and Women’s FIDE Master (
WFM)
Chelsie Monica
Sihite,
WFM Medina
Warda Aulia and
WFM Dewi AA
Citra on the women’s side.
Even though the team’s target is only two gold medals,
Kristianus Liem said
Chelsie Monica
Sihite and Medina
Warda Aulia, who will compete in women’s speed chess, had a shot at a medal.
Susanto will also compete in the men’s individual standard.
Kristianus said the 24-year-old athlete with an
elo rating of 2530 still had a chance at gold even though he would face tough competition from Asia’s youngest GM, Wesley
Barbasa So of the Philippines with a 2655
elo rating.
"In theory, it is difficult for
Susanto to beat So, but he still has a chance,"
Kristianus said.
He said he hoped the team would stay focused during the Games.
"The players are ready after nine months of training with a foreign coach. It is now up to them to focus and concentrate on their matches,” he said (
UR.8)