JAPFA Chess Festival

An update - Irene is hanging in there - having won her last 2 games, yippee! So, she still has a chance to get that coveted WGM norm. Here's the story from The JarkataPost.com: Irene keeps Grandmaster norm hopes alive at Japfa The Jakarta Post, Jakarta April 19, 2008 Indonesia's chess star Irene Kharisma Sukandar was handed a lifeline to pursue her Grandmaster hopes by defeating Woman FIDE Master Thanda Aye Win of Myanmar in the sixth round and Catherine Perena of the Philippines in the seventh of the Japfa Chess Festival. The 16-year-old Woman International Master, who has collected four points from two draws and three wins, will struggle to acquire at least 2.5 points from the remaining three rounds in order to become the first Indonesian woman to hold a grandmaster norm. "I was sure I would win that match because I had good positions. She (Win) made a fatal blunder in the middle of the game, which made it easier for me (to win)," Irene said Friday after defeating Win on the 43rd move. Previously in the third round match on Wednesday, she lost to Woman Grandmaster Regina Pokorna of Slovakia and tasted another bitter loss from Woman Grandmaster Jana Krivec of Slovenia the next morning. She admitted she was emotional after she lost her third and fourth rounds, but she managed to bounce back in the sixth round match by trying to focus her mind on winning every match. "I realize that my chance to get the required points is very small with those qualified players as my contenders. But I will try my best," she said, adding that it would be a "miracle" if God allowed her to get her first norm in the tournament. Irene will face a tough battle against Pokorna and top seed Woman Grandmaster Li Ruofan of Singapore on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ruofan continued her impeccable winning campaign by defeating Philippine Catherine Perena and drew Pokorna to garner 5.5 points to top the leaderboard. Placing second place was Slovakian Pokorna, who collected 4.5 from three draws and three wins. Irene and Slovenian Krivec shared third place. In the men's second- and third-round match, Indonesia's youngest Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto failed to earn any points after succumbing to the world's youngest Grandmaster Wesley So of the Philippines. "He is more patient than in our last meeting," Susanto said. The tournament, being held at the Indonesian Sports Council's hall, is the fourth meeting between the two Grandmaster title holders, with the Filipino taking a 3-0 lead. (JP/ind)