Two chess players at Universitas Dian Nuswantoro (Udinus) made their return by achieving national accomplishments, namely, at the 2024 Rector Cup at UGM. The tournament was participated by players of diverse backgrounds, with ‘Unity in Aurora’ being its theme. On that occasion, players sent by Udinus managed to garner two accomplishments on Sunday, December 15, 2024. 

At the tournament, Surya Wahyu Putra, a Management student at Udinus, managed to win first place in the solo category. Meanwhile, Evy Juli Ana, an English student at Udinus, was able to get her hands on the Best Women title. 

In addition, Surya also achieved the feat of not being defeated even a single time in the solo category. Out of all eight matches, Surya successfully accumulated a total of 7.5 points, with 7 wins and a draw. 

“This accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible without the preparations I had made with my fellow players from Udinus. I routinely hone my knowledge on chess theories and solve puzzles from global grandmasters,” he revealed. 

According to him, it took more than a talent to consistently claim accomplishments, as one must also learn solid strategies from global chess grandmasters. 

As additional information, the tournament was hosted by a public university in Yogyakarta. It featured three different categories, namely, Under 18, Under 21, and Public, with a total of 277 participants in all categories. 

Surya added that it was truly a prideful experience to represent Udinus at the tournament. He further hoped that the campus could facilitate its athletes, particularly, those who compete in international tournaments. 

“Hopefully, this accomplishment can motivate my fellow chess players, allowing players from Udinus to be international masters,” explained Surya, who also accomplished a silver medal in the Blitz Chess category at the 2024 14th Japfa Festival.

In response to these achievements, Dr. Rindra Yusianto, S.Kom., M.T.—the Head of the Student Affairs Bureau at Udinus—also expressed his pride and hoped that both players would keep up their commitments. 

“We will fully support our accomplished students excelling in both academic and non-academic fields. These students will also be rewarded with scholarships,” he concluded. (Humas Udinus/Haris. Foto: Dok. Pribadi)