RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The JAPFA FIDE Rated 2026 chess tournament grew even more intense as it entered the seventh round at The Tavia Heritage Hotel, Jakarta, on Monday, May 25. Top contenders continued to fight hard to keep their chances alive for the championship title.

One of the most gripping matches featured International Masters (IM) Muhammad Lutfi Ali and Satria Duta Cahaya. The duel was fiercely contested, with both players trading attacks from the middlegame into the decisive final moves.

Lutfi admitted he had a strong opportunity to secure victory earlier but lost momentum after choosing an overly aggressive approach. “I should have been ahead with a clear winning chance. But I rushed my move, and my opponent found a counterattack,” he said after the match.

He highlighted a critical moment when his opponent’s pawn push to c5 shifted the balance of play. Lutfi explained that an alternative knight move to e5 could have kept his position safe while maintaining pressure.

“If I had played knight to e5 first, he wouldn’t have had that counterattack. I miscalculated the variations, and the timing worked perfectly for him,” Lutfi reflected.

Despite missing the win, Lutfi remains among the leaders in the standings. With several players tied on points, the race for the title is expected to go down to the final rounds.

“The key now is not to lose in the last two rounds. The competition is still very tight, and everyone at the top has a chance,” he added.

The JAPFA FIDE Rated 2026 has drawn 350 participants from across Indonesia and seven other countries, including Australia, Japan, and Germany. The event plays a vital role in boosting the quality and international ratings of Indonesian chess players.

Top Five Standings after Round Seven:

• GM Novendra Priasmoro - 5.5 points
• IM Muhammad Lutfi Ali - 5.5 points
• IM Satria Duta Cahaya - 5.5 points
• GM Susanto Megaranto - 5.5 points
• Tirta Chandra Purnama - 5.5 points

(Diffa Sephiawardhani)