Facilitates Duel Match, JAPFA Proves its Commitment to Support Indonesian Chess

Bekasi, 19 May 2021 – GM Susanto Megaranto was declared as a winner against GM Novendra Priasmoro in the JAPFA Grandmaster Duel Match which was held for 2 days, starting on Tuesday (18/05) at the Utut Adianto Chess School (SCUA), Bekasi. The match for 4 rounds of standard (classic) chess is a collaboration between PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk (JAPFA) and the Executive Board of the Indonesian Chess Association (PB Percasi) to compete for the "wild card" to the Chess World Cup 2021 which was broadcasted live through the official YouTube channel JAPFA Indonesia.

JAPFA has started its collaboration with PB Percasi since 2000. Various championships and traces of Indonesian chess achievements have been explored together. Rachmat Indrajaya, Director of Corporate Affairs JAPFA said, "JAPFA always provides all support to continue to hone Indonesian chess skills and prepare young athletes to continue the footsteps of Indonesia's leading Grandmaster in the international arena. Congratulations to GM Susanto Megaranto for winning this match and being entitled to represent Indonesia at the Chess World Cup 2021."

The Chess World Cup 2021 is planned to be held in second semester -2021 in Sochi, Russia. In the championship which was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia has the privilege to get 1 wild card for male chess players and 1 wild card for female chess players because Indonesian chess is included in the Top Division category (the top 40 in the world).

Utut Adianto, Chairman of PB Percasi also gave a message, “The benefits that Indonesia has got this time must be used by sending the best. This is important to maintain the competitive spirit and sportsmanship of the Indonesian chess team, therefore we consider this selection a must.”

Utut also explained that currently Indonesia has 2 young Grandmasters who are strong candidates to represent Indonesia at the event against various other countries, namely GM Susanto Megaranto with an elo rating of 2550 and GM Novendra Priasmoro with an elo rating of 2502. This win signifies that this will be his 4th times competing in the World Cup. He has the right to represent Indonesia in the 2021 Chess World Cup with WGM Irene Karisma Sukandar and WGM Medina Warda Aulia.

JAPFA Grandmaster Duel Match gave a new color with the presence of 2 Indonesian chess heroes, namely WGM Irene Karisma Sukandar and WIM Chelsie Monica Sihite. The Indonesian female chess players also attracted the attention of the audience with their achievements, comments and analyzes.

In the first round, GM Susanto won the match by holding the white pawn. Lasting for almost 4 hours, Novendra's strong defense with his black pawns was finally repelled by GM Susanto. Followed by the second round, the match was quite tough, GM Novendra received a surprise move from GM Susanto which finally brought the match to a draw.

On the second day, the third round continued with surprising results because in the last seconds GM Novendra managed to win the match with a score of 1.5:1.5. While in the fourth round, the match also ended in a draw, which led the two Grandmasters to the deciding match of Armageddon 5:4 or more commonly known as Sudden Death. The match in this round was fast and tense which was then won by GM Susanto Megaranto at the last second. That way, he is entitled to represent the Indonesia Chess World Cup 2021 and get a cash prize of USD 3,750.

Synergizing with PB Percasi to facilitate the Indonesian chess players to win tickets to compete in the World Cup, JAPFA hopes that Indonesia's name can be engraved and fragrant in the international chess world. No less important, even though there is only one winner, hopefully this opportunity to compete can be utilized to the fullest by the two proud Grandmasters of Indonesia to practice honing their abilities, and can be used in the future matches.

Gens Una Sumus