Teacher-student trio of Gateway College excel at chess
Isuru Alahakoon, the coach and two of his students, Nabil Nazar Mohamed and Brijeash Saravanabhavan of Gateway College excelled at the Sri Lanka National Premier Division Chess Championships 2022. Having worked together as a team, the trio made their mark at a time when the championship had reached an important milestone of celebrating its golden jubilee.
Veteran and four-time national chess champion, Isuru Alahakoon who is the senior coach of Gateway, had a good performance to score 8 points and placed second according to the tiebreaker. Isuru beat S.M.H.D. Sathkumara, Marlon Fernando, Malith Madusanka, S. Sivathanujan, Osheen de Silva, K.G.S.T.D. Kiriella and Lisara Tennakoon, drew with Chandana Wijekoon and Dhanushka Bandara and lost only to the winner S.D.B.K. Senevirathne to score 8 points.
Nabil Nazar Mohamed of Gateway College beat
Induwara Wijewickrama, Chamin Vithanage, O.L.B. Yatawara, R.M.I.S.A. Rathnayake, Achintha Shamain Kaluarachchi, Sithija Lahiru and S.D.B.K. Senevirathne, drew with B. Janukshan and Brijeash Saravanabhavan to reach 8 points and third place on the tiebreaker.
Brijeash Saravanabhawan also made his best performance in an event so far
to tie for the first place but had to be satisfied with the fourth position according to the tiebreaker. He beat Vinsith Perera, Ramiru Gunawardena, Yasantha Jayaweera, Kevin Ranindu Silva, N.P.G. Sithija Lahiru, M.N. Abdul Basith and Elath Mathanga de Silva, drew with Lisara Tennakkon and Nabil Nazar Mohamed with the only loss coming against to Chandana Wijekoon.