Jakarta Chess: Sophie Milliet, Alina L'ami Win WGM Event

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

Sophie Milliet and Alina L’ami have tied for the first place in the 10-round Japfa Women’s Grandmaster Chess Tournament that ended on Friday in Jakarta. Millet of France and L’ami of Romania each scored 6 points in 10 rounds. Chelsie Monica Sihite was in third place with 5.5 points followed by fellow Indonesian Medina Warda Aulia and Yulia Kotchetkova of Slovakia, both with 5 points, and Natacha Benmesbah of France with 2.5 points.

Despite her joint top finish, L’ami said that she could have performed better had she had more time to prepare. Two games were played a day in the morning and afternoon, which according for L’ami was "too tight". “A double round a day is too much for the head, but I should not complain because everybody is in the same situation. I have to be professional and accept the condition. But in general, players should have one game a day,” L’ami said.

L’ami booked three wins, six draws and a loss. Her single loss came at the hands of Benmesbah in their first meeting in the fourth round. Co-winner Milliet won four games, drew four games and lost in her other two games. She rued her loss to Chelsie in the seventh round, which Milliet had been in control before a lapse. “I’m very exhausted,” Milliet said.

While admitting that the schedule was hectic, Event organising committee chairman Eka Putra Wirya said that they had no other option. “We can do it like we did in Bekasi last December. We had one game a day. Here we have to think about the cost,” Eka said. The WGM tournament was part of the Japfa Chess Festival that featured some 400 participants from 23 provinces split in a number of match categories. Veteran Salor Sitanggang won the open category, followed by Tirta Candra and Iqro Musa.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
YouTube Channel