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Medina one step closer to International Master’s title
Perfect move: Indonesia WGM Medina Warda Aulia concentrates while playing against Iranian WGM Mitra Hejazipour in the eighth round of the Japfa Chess Festival and International Masters 2017 in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday
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span class="caption">Perfect move: Indonesia WGM Medina Warda Aulia concentrates while playing against Iranian WGM Mitra Hejazipour in the eighth round of the Japfa Chess Festival and International Masters 2017 in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday. Medina won the match.(JP/Seto Wardhana)
Indonesia’s Woman Grand Master (WGM) Medina Warda Aulia is feeling a good vibe at the 10th Japfa Chess Festival and International Masters as she is on the brink of nailing the International Master (IM) title.
In Wednesday’s eighth round, the 19-year-old secured her fourth win in the tournament to collect 5.5 points after crushing WGM Mitra Hejazipour of Iran in a solid, controlled performance.
Medina needs to pocket six points in nine rounds or seven points in 11 rounds in the Jakarta showdown to earn her third norm for the IM title.
Medina, whose Elo rating at 2358, hinted that she was able to put pressure on the Iranian, who presented her with the much-needed victory.
“I think [Hejazipour] put too much time between moves,” said Medina when asked how she won the battle.
Kristianus Liem, the Indonesian Chess Association’s (Percasi) sport development head, lauded Medina’s overall performance as she, so far, has managed to keep her focus and stay on track with her main goal: earning the norm.
“Medina started the game with a Sicilian opening, which was indeed beneficial for her,” Kristianus told The Jakarta Post.
“She faced Mitra, a tough opponent who did well in defense. The win will definitely ease her ninth round [on Thursday] as she only needs to draw to snatch the International Master title,” he added.
Normally three norms in international tournaments involving other IMs and grandmasters are required before the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), the world chess body, confers the title on a player. IMs usually have an Elo rating between 2400 and 2500.
Medina has passed the 2400 rating, hence the third norm is enough for her to get the IM title.
On Thursday, Medina will play against IM Thanh Ninh Vo (2405 rating) of Vietnam.
Kristianus said Vo was not an easy opponent. He, however, is confident that Medina can maintain her domination.
Medina, who earned the WGM title in 2013, started the chess festival quite bumpily as she lost to counterpart FIDE Master (FM) Novendra Priasmoro in the first round.
She however bounced back in the next rounds as she managed to gain three consecutive wins against all-Indonesian opponents, FM Arif Abdul Hafiz (2396), FM Azarya Jodi Setyaki (2365) and FM Yoseph Theolifus Taher (2369) respectively.
In Round 5 to 7, Medina drew against Indonesia’s Surya Wahyudi (2229), IM Haridas Pascua (2437) of the Philippines and IM Alina L’ami (2303) of Romania.
Meanwhile, Yoseph, who is in search of the first norm to get the IM title, also won in the eighth round. He only needs to draw in Thursday’s ninth round to get the norm.
