Positive For COVID-19, GM Susanto Megaranto Declared Lose In The 2021 Chess World Cup

GM Susanto Megaranto (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - GM Susanto Megaranto tested positive for COVID-19 during the second round of the 2021 Chess World Cup in Russia against the United States chess player, Fabiano Caruana, Thursday, July 15 local time.

Susanto broke through to the second round in his fourth chance to enter the Chess World Cup after winning 1.5 - 0.5 over Iranian chess GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (2547) in the first round tie-break the day before Wednesday.

Thus, Susanto became the second chess player from Indonesia to reach the second round of the World Cup after GM Utut Adianto who did it twice, namely in Groningen, Netherlands (1996) and in Tripoli, Libya (2004).

However, the FIDE World Chess Federation through its official social media stated that one of the 2021 Chess World Cup participants tested positive for COVID-19 while playing the second round. Due to health and safety considerations, the player is asked to leave the playing area.

"The organizers of the FIDE World Cup confirm that one of the players has tested positive for Covid-19. The results of this test were known when he played the second round of the game," FIDE tweeted via the @FIDE_chess account.

The FIDE World Cup organizers confirm that one of the players has tested positive for Covid-19. The result of this test was known while he was playing his second-round game. (1/3 thread)

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 15, 2021

However, FIDE did not mention the athlete in question. As for his opponent, he was also asked to leave the playing area and immediately undergo additional medical examinations and will be tested again today, Friday.

His opponent, who was also requested to leave the playing hall immediately, will now undergo additional medical screenings and will be tested again tomorrow as scheduled. (3/3)

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 15, 2021

Meanwhile, Caruan, Susanto's opponent, confirmed that the Indonesian chess player was positive for COVID-19. He wished Susanto well.

"I hope Mr. Megaranto is okay - he seemed fine during the match, so the way the match ended was a very unpleasant surprise. Tomorrow I will have a test to see if I have covid and hopefully I can continue the event after that, " wrote Caruana on Twitter.

I hope Mr. Megaranto is feeling well - he seemed to be completely fine during the game, so the way the match ended was a very unpleasant shock. I'll take a test tomorrow to determine if I was exposed to covid and hopefully I can continue the event after that.

— Fabiano Caruana (@FabianoCaruana) July 15, 2021

Susanto has previously participated in the World Cup three times, namely in 2007, 2010, and 2019 which all took place in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

On the fourth occasion at the prestigious chess tournament, Susanto admitted that he had prepared more thoroughly than the previous World Cup because he did not want to repeat the failure in his three previous appearances, which he always lost in the first round.

"For the fourth experience, I will try my best. Because my opponent this time is more balanced," said the chess player from Indramayu, West Java at a press conference before the match, reported by Antara.

Susanto's struggle to penetrate the second round of the 2021 chess World Cup did not take place easily. Facing Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, who has relatively balanced abilities, Susanto had to go through the tie break after in two classical chess rounds, he played mussels with the 13-times Iranian national champion.

The draw also occurred in the first round of the tie break which played fast chess. However, while holding the black fruit in the second round of the tie break, Susanto was able to beat his opponent through a fierce battle of 51 steps.

As broadcast on the tournament's official website, in a match that played the English Open or the opposite of the Sicilian Defense, Susanto's black pawn slightly controlled the center of the game, although Maghami's positional play was difficult for Susanto to penetrate.

The best Indonesian chess player only seemed to excel in the final game through a series of combinations that made him materially superior by having one bull, while his opponent had two pawns accompanying the king. This condition then forced Maghami to surrender after Susanto ran the fort into the a8 box in the 51st move to open a lane to threaten the white pawn.

Susanto's victory made Indonesia place three chess players in the second round after previously IM Medina Warda Aulia and IM Irene Kharisma Sukandar qualified for the second round in the women's World Cup category (FIDE Women's World Cup).

The results achieved by Susanto, Irene, and Medina were warmly welcomed by PB Percasi and JAPFA who again sponsored the departure of the Indonesian Chess Team to the 2021 Chess World Cup.

"Thank God, what Susanto and the two Indonesian Chess Heroes produced in the Chess World Cup arena in Sochi, Russia is a new history for the Indonesian chess world and I am grateful that JAPFA is part of that history," said Artsanti Alif, Head of Social Investment at PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk.

But unfortunately, Susanto Megaranto's steps had to be stopped due to being exposed to COVID-19. So far there has been no official statement from either Susanto or PB Percasi.