In the first day of Rapid chess of the MAKITA Women Match between Indonesia and France held at the Grand Ballroom of Sekolah Catur Utut Adianto (SCUA) which translates as Utut Adianto Chess School, the Indonesian girls took a commanding 5.5-2.5 lead.
Wins by Medina and Citra helped to edge the first match for Indonesia 2.5-1.5 despite a quick win by Milliet in reply. The young Indonesians even increased the score in the second match to 3-1 with Medina and Sukandar chalking up the round’s only wins.
The matches were witnessed by Eka Putra Wirya, very much the man who has generously supported Indonesian chess for over 30 years now and who arranged the sponsorship of the match through MAKITA. (Eka is pictured here with fellow SCUA Director Kristianus Liem and the French team).
It will be interesting to see if the French girls can bounce back in rounds three and four to try and draw or perhaps even win the match, after which attention will shift to the classical games matches from 19-22 December.
Round 1:
IM Milliet Sophie – WGM Sukandar Irine Kharisma 1 – 0
WGM Maisuradze Nino – WIM Medina Warda Aulia 0 – 1
WIM Benmeshbad Natacha – WIM Shite Chelsie Monica ½ – ½
WIM Congui Mathilde – WFM Dewi AA Citra 0 – 1
Round 2:
WIM Medina Warda Aulia – IM Milliet Sophie 1 – 0
WIM Shite Chelsie Monica – WGM Maisuradze Nino ½ – ½
WFM Dewi AA Citra – WIM Benmeshbad Natacha ½ – ½
WGM Sukandar Irine Kharisma – WIM Congui Mathilde 1 – 0
Report by Chief Arbiter Peter Long
France will rule!