The Indonesia men’s chess team secured a 3-1 victory against Italy during the fifth round of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto and International Master Satria Duta Cahaya delivered crucial wins on Sunday, September 20, 2026, lifting the squad to eight match points in the tournament standings.
Men’s Team Triumphs Over Italy in Round Five
Competing at the Samarkand tournament, the Indonesian men’s squad entered the fifth round as the 52nd seed facing an Italian side seeded 26th. The European team fielded three Grandmasters in their starting lineup, while the Merah Putih squad deployed one Grandmaster and three International Masters, according to official tournament reports. The tactical battle ended in a convincing 3-1 win for Indonesia.
Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto set the tone on board one by defeating Grandmaster Lorenzo Lodici, who holds a 2573 rating. On board three, International Master Satria Duta Cahaya added a second full point by forcing Grandmaster Sabino Brunello to concede defeat. International Masters Gilbert Elroy Tarigan and Nayaka Budhidharma secured draws on boards two and four respectively against Grandmaster Luca Moroni Jr. and International Master Edoardo Di Benedetto to seal the team victory.
Board-by-Board Breakdown: Indonesia vs. Italy
- Board 1: GM Susanto Megaranto (2488) vs. GM Lorenzo Lodici (2573) — 1-0
- Board 2: IM Gilbert Elroy Tarigan (2416) vs. GM Luca Moroni Jr. (2556) — 0.5-0.5
- Board 3: IM Satria Duta Cahaya (2412) vs. GM Sabino Brunello (2536) — 1-0
Women’s Squad Falls Narrowly to Georgia
While the men celebrated, the Indonesia women’s team experienced a tight 1.5-2.5 defeat against Georgia. Entering the fifth round, both national squads held six match points. The Indonesian women faced a formidable challenge against Georgia, the tournament’s second-seeded team. Despite the loss, the women’s team maintains its total of six match points through five rounds of play in Samarkand.
Standings and Upcoming Fixtures in Samarkand
The latest results elevate the Indonesia men’s team to a strong position with eight match points after five rounds of competition. Following Sunday’s success against Italy, the squad prepares for its sixth-round encounter on Monday, September 21, 2026, where they are scheduled to face the Greece team, which holds the 19th starting seed position.
