Kenneth Ready to Defend His DKI Chess Champion Title at the 2025 National Championship

Viralterkini.id, Jakarta – DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo challenged the newly appointed General Chair of the DKI Jakarta All-Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi), Hardiyanto Kenneth, to maintain the tradition of overall champions in the 2025 National Chess Championship (Kejurnas).

Pramono conveyed this challenge when attending the inauguration of the DKI Jakarta Percasi management for the 2025–2029 period which took place in Jakarta, Wednesday (15/10/2025).

The inauguration was led directly by the General Chairperson of Central PB Percasi, Grand Master (GM) Utut Adianto, and was attended by a number of sports figures and regional administrators.

On this occasion, Pramono emphasized the importance of maintaining DKI Jakarta’s reputation as a national chess barometer.

“I hope that the National Championship in front of DKI Jakarta will still be the overall champion. To Mr. Kenneth and all the newly appointed staff, maintain this good momentum,” stressed Pramono in his speech.

This year, the National Chess Championship will be held in Mamuju, West Sulawesi, on 7–13 November 2025.

This prestigious event will be attended by the best chess players from all provinces in Indonesia, including Grand Masters and talented young chess players.

At the previous National Championship which took place in Jakarta, the Percasi DKI Jakarta team performed brilliantly by winning six gold medals and successfully becoming the overall champion.

This record of achievement has now become a burden and motivation for the new management to maintain it.

The General Chairperson of Percasi DKI Jakarta, Hardiyanto Kenneth, welcomed this challenge with high optimism.

He emphasized that the target of maintaining the overall title was not only realistic, but also a commitment with the new management.

“This target is certainly not easy, but we are optimistic because we have a stock of potential young athletes who continue to show extraordinary development,” said Kenneth, who is also a member of the DKI Jakarta DPRD from the PDI Perjuangan faction.

Not only did he defend his title, Kenneth even raised his medal target to 10 gold out of a total of 17 gold medals which is contested.

To make this happen, Percasi DKI Jakarta will immediately hold a working meeting to determine the best athletes who will be sent to Mamuju.

“We will select the best athletes through a working meeting in the near future. After that, the selected athletes will undergo intensive training so that they are truly ready to face the National Championship,” added Kenneth.

Meanwhile, the General Chairperson of PB Percasi, GM Utut Adianto, gave a special message to Kenneth to focus on continuing to develop and regenerate young athletes.

According to him, DKI Jakarta has been known as the “national chess player’s warehouse” and has great potential to produce new Grand Masters.

“Jakarta is known as the center for the birth of great chess players. We saw earlier that there was a nine year old child, Zach Alexander Chong, who has become a national champion. Hopefully children like this can grow up to become Grand Masters,” said Utut.

Utut also emphasized that PB Percasi will continue to support DKI Jakarta’s efforts in producing future athletes through continuous development and increasing competition at the local and national levels.

“We hope that Percasi DKI Jakarta will continue to provide the best space and facilities for young athletes. From here we can regenerate Indonesia’s proud Grand Master,” he said.

Apart from the inauguration, this event is also a momentum for consolidation and unification of the vision of the new management.

Kenneth emphasized that his party would focus on early childhood development and strengthen synergy with chess clubs in the DKI Jakarta area.

“We want chess development in DKI to not only focus on championships, but also on regeneration. Young people need space to develop so that the winning tradition is maintained,” said Kenneth.

It is believed that the 2025 National Chess Championship in Mamuju will be a proving ground for athletes as well as a barometer of national chess achievements.

With high targets and strong support from the regional government and PB Percasi, DKI Jakarta is determined to maintain its dominance on the national chess board.

Percasi DKI, Utut Adianto, Indonesian Chess, 2025 National Chess Championship, Pramono Anung,