The chess team contributed a gold medal for the Indonesian contingent at the 27th SEA Games after Irene Kharisma Sukandar won the blitz chess competition on Saturday.

Irene had teammate Medina Warda Aulia to thank. Medina's success in holding Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Vietnam to a draw in the last round meant that Irene's position at the top of the standings was insurmountable.

She was well aware of Medina's role in her achievement. She promptly grabbed and hugged Medina as the latter was walking out of the playing hall on the sixth floor of Hotel Zabu Thiri in Naypyitaw.

'Thank you Med,' Irene said expressing her gratitude.

Medina had just finished her match against Tram in the 15th and final round.

'It was a tight and heart-wrenching match. The draw gave Irene an insurmountable points tally. Irene won by half a point,' team manager Kristianus Liem said in a media release.

Irene and Tram were in a tight battle of wits right up to the end. They were pegged at 12 points each after playing their 14th round matches. Medina was in third place with 11 points.

Another Vietnamese player Pham Bich Ngoc was trailing behind them with 10.5 points.

In the last round, Irene managed to eke out a win over Hazel Liu Yang of Singapore. However, it was also the game between Medina and Tram that gave Irene the victory.

'When I hugged Medina, I whispered to her 'you deserve to be the hero',' Irene said.

Medina said she should have gained more than just a draw. Against Tram, she was holding an advantage of a bishop and could have forked Tram's king and rook.

'But she was so tense because time was ticking fast that she made a poor tactical decision. She took a pawn, instead,' Kristianus said.

'I did have that move in mind, but damn it why'd I chose another move,' Medina said.

If Medina had beaten Tram she would have earned the silver medal. ' JP

Popular

Indonesian hotel chain confirms exit from Cuba

Femicide persists as women face systemic neglect 

Health Ministry to push regulation on tobacco plain packaging