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Japfa Asean Chess: Sean outplays Huy in eighth round
(JP/Niken Prathivi)International Master Sean Winshand Cuhendi was back to his winning ways on Sunday after beating IM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam in the 8th Round of the 3rd Japfa ASEAN Chess Championship at the Utut Adianto Chess School (SCUA)
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(JP/Niken Prathivi)
International Master Sean Winshand Cuhendi was back to his winning ways on Sunday after beating IM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam in the 8th Round of the 3rd Japfa ASEAN Chess Championship at the Utut Adianto Chess School (SCUA).
The 18-year-old Indonesian looked relieved with the result as soon as he finished the round, in which he overpowered Huy with a string of cunning moves.
'I did several unusual moves, letting go of my knight in g7 and h6 and it clearly spoiled my opponent's game plan,' Sean told The Jakarta Post.
The senior high-school student said that he decided not to rattle off too many formbook moves during the opening in order to mislead Huy.
'I did some improvisations in the opening. I didn't want to be trapped in [Huy's] play,' he said, adding that he had collected a good number of winning tricks from match experience.
In the ninth Round on Monday, Sean will meet FIDE Master Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam.
'Tomorrow [Monday] I'll be facing another Vietnamese athlete ' a country with great chess players. I'll just do my best,' he said.
So far, Sean has collected 4.5 points in the tournament from draws against compatriots GM Susanto Megaranto, Muhammad Lutfi Ali, FM Yeoh Li Tian of Malaysia, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia and IM Paulo Bersamina of the Philippines, and victories over GM Darwin Laylo of the Philippines and Huy. He lost to compatriot Theolifus Taher Yoseph.
On chasing norms for the title of Grandmaster, Sean said that he remained confident despite facing tough opponents in the ASEAN event. GM norms are a prerequisite for the full GM title.
Besides Khoi, Sean will also face GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam in Round 10 on Wednesday and IM Wynn Zaw Htun of Myanmar in Round 11 on Wednesday.
'On paper, I need to keep on winning in the remaining three rounds for the Grandmaster norm. If I'm able to become champion in this competition, I will automatically earn the norm,' said Sean, adding that he has collected one norm out of a required three. Sean earned his first norm after winning the Japfa Grandmaster Chess Tournament in April in Jakarta.
Paulo, Li Tian and Garcia also booked wins. Paulo defeated Wynn, Li Tian overcame Theolifus and Garcia defeated Darwin.
Top seed Susanto had to be content with a draw, this time with fellow Indonesian Lutfi. Vietnamese players Dao Thien Hai and Nguyen Ahn Khoi also ended their game in a draw.
The women's competition unfolded fiercely. Chelsie Monica Sihite and Nur Abida Shanti were the only players to end their match in a draw.
