Seniru and Amaya take honours
Seniru Ranuth Nagasinghe of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda excelled in the Western 1 Open event by scoring a total of 7 ½ points out of possible 8 games to win the Inaugural Sri Lanka Online National Novices Chess Championship 2021 convincingly.
He was unbeaten in all 8 rounds scoring 7 wins straight along with Mihin Kuruppuarachchi, Dulain Chinthaka, Kishora Siriwardena, Ahmed Kariyapper, Sasiru Sugathadasa, Lasindu Perera and Dulnith Sanviru. He conceded just one draw to Thisitha Mihindupriya in the last round to win the gold medal.
Aloka Jeewantha Hettiarachchi of Nalanda College won the second place scoring 7 points out of 8 games while Dulnith Sanviru of Royal College won third place with 6 ½ points out of 8 games. Aloka won the silver medal while Dulnith claimed the bronze medal.
Though the other three players, Thisitha Mihindupriya of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, Daham Vidarshana Jayasundara of Thurstan College and Tathika Waduge of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda tied with Dulnith scoring 6 ½ points, they had to satisfy with fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively according to tie- breakers.
Amaya Induwari Ranasinghe of Viharamahadevi Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kiribathgoda, was outstanding to win the Western 2 Girls’ segment of the championship scoring full 7 points out of 7 games. She beat Dewli Munasinghe, Yasara Senanayake, Hasandi Sendanayake, Vihansa Hettiarachchi, Hemalini Rathnayake, Sithuli Sithumya and Jayandi Bimansa convincingly to claim the gold medal.
Dulinma Hemalini Rathnayake, also of Viharamahadevi BMV, Kiribathgoda was placed second with 6 points while Jaynandi Bimansa of Bandaragama Central finished at third position with 5 points. Dulnima won the silver medal for her fine performance. Five more players -- Sithuli Sithumya, Hasandi Sendanayake, Amani Rukshana, Nilakshi Mahasinghe and Sasindi Grero tied with Jayandi with 5 points each. But Jayandi Bimansa won the bronze medal with the better tie- breaker points.
The inaugural Sri Lanka Online National Rapid Chess Championship 2021 consists of four stages. The cycle started with the Novices events in seven regions followed by the Major Division events in the same regions. The top players with more than 2000 ELO Ratings and for Women above 1700 ELO, will join with the selectees from the Major Division events to play in the National ‘ B’ event.
The Top 14 players of the National ‘ B’ will join the current National Chess champion and the top rank player, ( if he is more than 2300 and in Women’s if she is more than 2000) in the 15 round robin in the first stage of the finals while a knockout segment among top four players of round robin event will be played as second stage in the finals. The same structure will be followed in the Women’s event as well.
The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka will offer Rs 180,000 as cash rewards for the National ‘ B’ and National finals with medals and trophies on offer for all other events. The top 29 players of the Western I Open event and the top 14 players of the Western II Women event also qualified to play the Sri Lanka National Majors Division Chess Championship in their regions, to be held from late August.