WGM Irene Kharisma Sukandar, who traveled from distant Indonesia, took a clear first place in Alexander The Great Open by concluding the event with 6,0/7 points.

Despite challenging the field with 2 GMs and 6 IMs, her result was rather convincing as she started with four consecutive wins and remained in sole lead until the end of the tournament.

Sukandar also added 25 elo points and raised her rating to 2395, only five points shy from the title of International Master. She already has six(!) IM norms.

Big pictorial report here

IM Mert Erdogdu had a chance to overtake Sukandar in the direct last round clash but the game was drawn and the Turkish player finished clear second with 5,5/7 points. Full standings here.

IM Boris Itkis took the trophy for the third place thanks to the superior tie-break.

Top placed women are WIM Sandra Djukic, WIM Ljilja Drljevic (both from Serbia) and IM Masha Klinova (Israel).

Irene Kharisma Sukandar commented that she didn’t expect to win this tournament and just hoped to play a couple of good games, “I didn’t come here with the focus on the Open, I am here to accompany my sister who is playing in the World School Championship. But I did pretty well and I hope that my sister can follow in the footsteps.”

“After this tournament I will compete in six-player double round robin in Keckemet, Hungary. It will be a tough challenge as there are four Grandmaster participating. I just hope I can get another five elo points in that tournament”, (smiling).

Final Standings (top finishers):

1 WGM Sukandar Irine Kharisma INA 2370 6.0
2 IM Erdogdu Mert TUR 2422 5.5
3 IM Itkis Boris ROU 2395 5.0
4 GM Tadic Branko SRB 2517 5.0
5 IM Arsovic Zoran SRB 2434 5.0
6 WIM Djukic Sandra SRB 2199 5.0
7 GM Antic Dejan SRB 2473 5.0
8 IM Sapar Emelbek KGZ 2339 4.5
9 IM Miljkovic Miroslav D SRB 2471 4.5
10 Asgarov Mushfig AZE 2226 4.5
11 WIM Drljevic Ljilja SRB 2174 4.5
12 IM Klinova Masha ISR 2316 4.0
13 Husseinov Shahin AZE 2193 4.0
14 Dorfanis Ilarion GRE 2184 4.0
15 Avagianos Simeon GRE 2027 4.0
16 WGM Stojanovic Andjelija SRB 2282 4.0
17 Lekatis Ioannis GRE 1687 4.0
18 Altaher Tarek Ali UAE 1883 4.0

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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