Chess: Susanto Megaranto faces tough test from Wesley Barbasa So

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)