Merauke, Papua (ANTARA) – West Java’s chess player IM (International Master) Irene Kharisma Sukandar has said that she will head to Latvia after the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) ends to take part in another tournament.
“In 10 days, I will be leaving for Latvia to compete at the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) Women’s Grand Swiss Tournament 2021, participated by the top 50 international female chess players. Thus, it is very prestigious,” she told ANTARA here on Wednesday.
Sukandar — who bagged a gold medal in the women’s standard chess event at the XX Papua PON — has informed that this will be her first offline international tournament since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I have not set any targets. I will only try to give my best as amid the pandemic, I did not play directly on the board in any international tournament,” she said.
The 29-year-old said that her participation in the XX Papua PON was part of her preparations for the tournament.
She said that her experience of competing directly on the chessboard will be very useful to improve her responsiveness and strategy in the game.
“Although I keep on practicing, however, it will be technically different when playing on the board,” she remarked.
Sukandar pocketed the gold medal at XX Papua PON after completing a nine-round match, collecting 8 points from 7 wins and 2 draws at Swiss-Bellhotel, Merauke District.
The silver medal was bagged by Woman International Master (WIM) Chelsie Monica Sihite from East Kalimantan with seven points.
Meanwhile, Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Regita Desyari Putri, representing Central Kalimantan, snatched the bronze medal with 6.5 points.
Earlier, Sukandar also won silver medals at the blitz chess and fast chess events.
Source: Antara News