Wijekoon and Ranasinghe stamp their class
View(s):Chandana Wijekoon and Sachini Ranasinghe stamped their class at the Sri Lanka Open Chess Championship winning the men’s and women’s categories respectively. Wijekoon won the men’s title of the championship after a long battle on the tie breaker after tying with Minul Doluweera and Ruchira Dissanayake with 8 ½ points out of possible 10 points. Wijekoon, a player to have competed at top level both domestically and internationally for a long time, played up to his potential to earn his first major title.
Sachini
With the win Wijekoon secured a prize money of Rs. 41,600 in addition to the coveted men’s title of the Sri Lanka Open Chess Championship 2014 and a gold medal. Doluweera of Royal College also had an excellent game and shared the top spot and the same amount of cash prize. But he was awarded the silver medal. Dissananayake too earned a cash sum of Rs. 41,600 while winning the bronze medal.
Osheen de Silva and Chinthaka Mendis tied at fourth place and earned Rs. 10,000 each. Five players, Lakshith Randill, T.S.S. Pieris, A.A.C.B. Amaratunge, Chinthaka Anuruddha, C. Lamahewa finished at equal sixth with 7 ½ points while four others, R.S. Kalugampitiya, A.M.B. Ekanayake, Marlon Fernando and Jayasanka Perera shared the 11th place.
Ranasinghe, who won the women’s title at the Sri Lanka Open Chess Championship is a Women’s International Master (WIM) and she tied with World Fide Master Anuththara Chandrasiri and Tiumi Yashora
Chandana
at 7 ½ points. Ranasinghe won the gold medal and a cash prize of Rs. 6666. Both Chandrasiri and Yashora were awarded similar cash prizes but had to settle with a silver and a bronze medal respectively.
The Sri Lanka Open Chess Championship 2014 held at the Magazine Reception Hall in Borella was conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka with a cash award of Rs. 400,000 on offer. A total of 292 players including two from Singapore took part at the event. – NA
Other results:
Best Unrated: Sachin Colambage (0, 6½), Aritha Balasooriya (0, 6), Sandaru Wijesiri (0, 6), Deshan Weerasinghe (0, 6)
Best Player – Rated Below 1600: Rahul Jeyanthan (1565, 7), Charanga Gamage (1450, 7), Sithija Lahiru (1451, 7)
Best Player – Rated Between 1600 and 1799: Iraja Abhimanyu (1674, 7), Vinodh Kotalawala (1662, 7), L.D.P. Madusanka (1721, 7)
Best Player – Rated Between 1800 and 1999: Dineth Naotunna (1836, 7½), Thisura Munasinghe (1839, 7), Subash Lasitha (1836, 7)
Under-15 Boys: Mojitha Gunaratne (1841, 7), S. Anojman (1536, 7), C.U. Hettiarachchi (1645, 6½), Chamath Weerasinghe (1640, 6½), Suveen Ellawela (1617, 6½), Dewpathi Gammarachchi (1405, 6½), E.D.S. Chandula (1594, 6½)
Under-15 Girls: Dilhara Wickramasinghe (1646, 6½), Dasuni Mendis (1664, 6½), Janudi Rodrigo (1293, 6), Anuki Pasqual (1366, 6), Medhavi Pinsara (0, 6)
Under-12 Boys: Denuwan Theekshana (1598, 7), Sasith Piyumantha (1661, 6½), Ranindu Liyanage (1446, 6½)
Under-12 Girls: Roshell Askey (1426, 7), Gayuni Kavithma (0, 5), Senaya Walisinghe (0, 5), Siluni Pasqual (0, 5)
Under-10 Boys: Gimantha Kiriella (1302, 6½), Isara Dahanayake (1286, 6), Lisara Kodithuwakku (1250, 5½), Vimeth Methsilu (1114, 5½)
Under-10 Girls: Sachintha Kodikara (1356, 5½), Tharushi Sandeepani (0, 5½), Anaisha Choksy (0, 5½)
Under-8 Boys: Bhanila Mathes (1320, 5½), L.M.S.T. De Silva (0, 5), Senila Gunarathne (0, 5), Akash Perera (0, 5), D. Thanuja (0, 5)
Under-8 Girls: Ehsha Pallie (0, 4½), Dahamdi Sanudula (0, 4), Nisindi Gamage (0, 3), Thewni Fernando (0, 3)