Bandung-Indonesia – February 16, 2025
At the Indonesian GM Tournament 2025 held at the Mewangi Hotel in Bandung, International Master (IM) Aditya Bagus Arfan seized the opportunity to boost his Elo rating and secure an additional GM norm. In his opening round match, he outplayed his compatriot, IM Gilbert Elroy Tarigan.
“In this GM event, I must pursue victory as optimally as possible. My rating had dropped to 2402 in the previous championship, so every win counts,” stated IM Aditya Bagus.
Arfan’s ambitions remain high as he strives to elevate his Elo rating to 2500—the requisite benchmark for achieving the Grandmaster title. With two norms already in his portfolio, he now needs to secure one more to meet the necessary standards.
In another impressive performance, IM Taher Yoseph Theolifus claimed his first victory in the tournament. Despite playing with the black pieces, he managed to overcome his compatriot GM Novendra Priasmoro. Meanwhile, the experienced GM Susanto Megaranto, also playing black, reluctantly conceded to the formidable Australian GM Kuybokarov Temur, who wielded the white pieces with precision.
“The match was evenly contested in the early stages. Unfortunately, a misstep on move 25 forced me into a defeat,” explained GM Susanto.
The excitement continued in the IM Tournament category with a riveting encounter between WGM Frayna Janelle Mae and FM Satria Duta Cahaya. The young Indonesian competitor, playing as black, maintained composure throughout the game.
“I played without any pressure, matching my opponent until move 70 to secure a win. This result is crucial as I strive for my second IM norm,” commented Satria following his final move.
According to him, with this promising start, he must now prepare for the upcoming match against IM Mohamad Ervan in the second round of the IM Tournament 2025.
Additional notable wins were recorded in the IM Tournament group. IM Budhidharma Nayaka emerged victorious after defeating IM Wynn Zaw Htun, while IM Hafiz Arif Abdul, commanding the black pieces, secured an advantage over Vietnamese WGM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, who played white. Kristianus Liem, Head of Performance Development at PB Percasi, noted that the first round was fiercely competitive, offering national players a valuable chance to improve their Elo ratings. This enthusiasm for development is a key reason why PB Percasi endeavors to host this event annually, aiming to uplift the achievements of national chess players as they pursue coveted titles.
The enthralling matches of the Indonesian Grandmaster Tournament 2025 can be watched live on SCUA TV Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@SCUATV/streams and via the official website www.indonesiagmtournament.com.
Utut Adianto: Pursuing Titles and Norms
GM Utut Adianto, Chairman of PB Percasi, expressed his high expectations and fervent support for the 12 Indonesian players competing in this prestigious event.
“Twelve players, representing 10 countries, will battle it out across 11 matches, ensuring a highly competitive environment,” GM Utut Adianto remarked following the tournament’s inauguration on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
Utut anticipates that this tournament will open significant opportunities for players either to earn the GM title or to improve their Elo ratings. Participants aiming for GM norms are required to score 7.5 victory points, while 6.5 victory points are needed for the IM norm. For instance, IM Aditya Bagus Arfan is targeting the GM title, which necessitates an Elo rating of 2,500 and the acquisition of three norms — he currently holds two.
Moreover, as the President of FIDE Zone 3.3 Asia, Utut expressed gratitude for the impressive turnout. This GM event brought together 24 competitors from Indonesia along with participants from India, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, Ukraine, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
