Young Indonesian chess player, Samantha Edithso, 10, accompanied by Kristianus Liem, head of the performance development section of the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi), shows her medal and cup after winning the U-10 2018 World Cadet Chess Championship in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on Friday (16/11/2018). Samantha is the second Indonesian chess player to win a world chess champion title in the cadet category. In 1989, Irwin Irnandi was world chess champion in the U-10 open category.
SANTIAGO, THURSDAY — Young Indonesian chess player, Samantha Edithso, 10, stole the attention of the international chess world when she won the title in the U-10 2018 World Cadet Chess Championship in Santiago de Compostela, Spain on Friday (16/11/2018), early morning Indonesian time. The classic chess champion title Samantha picked up this time added to the fast chess champion title she won last June.
Samantha becomes the second Indonesian chess player to win a world chess championship title in the cadet category. In 1989, Irwin Irnandi won a world chess champion title in the U-10 open category.
Although the chess players won in the cadet category, the achievement is still a matter of pride because senior Indonesian chess players, such as GM Utut Adianto and GM Susanto Megaranto, have never been world champions at any level.
“The success of Samantha in winning the world title is a matter of pride. The regeneration and chess coaching conducted by Percasi for years has finally begun to bear positive results. The world of international chess will again take into account Indonesian chess players,” said Eka Putra Wirya, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi).
Samantha’s success in becoming a world champion was preceded by a tense process. Samantha almost lost the chance to win after losing to Zhou Yafei, 10, from China in the ninth round. The defeat meant Samantha could only be a champion if she won the remaining two rounds and awaited the results of another match.
Samantha completed her task by winning the 10th and 11th rounds against Sophie Velea, 10, from the United States and Alexandra Shvedova, 10, from Russia. Luck was with Samantha when Yafei was forced to a draw by Chen Yining, 9, in the final round.
Samantha topped the final standings after collecting nine points from nine wins and two defeats. The second to fourth positions were Shvedova, Chen, and Zhou with 8.5 points.
“Miracles really happen. We almost lost hope when Samantha lost in the ninth round. Even though it depended on the results of other people\'s matches, Samantha could finally become the world champion,” Percasi development and achievement division chairman Kristianus Liem said from Spain.
Last match
In the last game, Samantha faced Shvedova who at that time topped the standings. Shvedova only needed a draw to become world champion. That led her to play safe and not aggressively attack Samantha’s defense.
On the other hand, Samantha actually tried to suppress from the opening because she was very eager to win. Repeatedly Shvedova countered attacks by the chess player from Bandung, West Java, and forced her to exchange knights.
Quality and a balanced position persuaded Shvedova to offer a draw. However, Samantha declined because this would defeat her chance of becoming world champion.
Her persistence paid off after Shvedova made two blunders that made it easier for Samantha to take the position. Shvedova’s first blunder in move 46 was when her pawn closed the knight’s track.
Shvedova’s second blunder was in the 66th move when her knight fell into Samantha’s trap by capturing pawns rather than taking the defensive. Samantha retaliated by taking two pieces from her rival.
Samantha who began to excel in quality and position continued to put on the pressure until checkmate in the 77th move.
“I am happy to be world champion. I present this title to the Indonesian people,” Samantha said.
Even though she has won the world championship at a young age, Percasi chairman Utut Adianto hoped Samantha would continue to practice and strengthen the foundation of her game so that it could develop well.
Percasi was ready to help Samantha to continue to practice until she won the title of grandmaster.
“Percasi will continue to encourage and facilitate Samantha to be great at all levels. This is a long process. We will send her to a senior tournament to fight even harder opponents,” Utut said. (ECA)
