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ALEMBANG: South Sumatra chess player International Master (IM) Irwanto Sadikin earned a spot in the top six ranking by getting an Elo rating of 2419 at the recent 6th Prospero A. Pichay Junior Cup in the Philippines’ capital Manila.

“The top five are all senior Grandmasters [GM], while Irwanto is the only IM in the top 10,” South Sumatra chess coach Alsaputra said Saturday.

Forty-seven chess players, including nine GMs and 11 IMs took part in the Aug. 21-27 tournament in Manila. GM Anton Filippov of Uzbekistan won the event as he scored a rating of 2609, while GM John Paul Gomez of the Philippines scored 2527 to cling to fifth.

“With the result, Irwanto is closer to a GM title,” Alsaputra said. A chess player needs an Elo rating of 2500 or above to be crowned a GM.

“Irwanto should compete more against other international players to further improve his rating,” Alsaputra said.

The chairman of the South Sumatra branch of the National Sports Committee (KONI), Mudai Madang, said his association was fully behind Irwanto’s quest to become the next chess Indonesian chess Grandmaster.

Current House of Representatives member Utut Adianto became Indonesia’s first chess GM in 1986, while Susanto Megaranto, who will take part at the upcoming Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, earned his GM title in 1994. — JP