New era of Sri Lankan Chess
Kandy Open International Chess Festival, undoubtedly the biggest chess experience in Sri Lanka concluded the event on August 27 with the record of the highest number of participants for any International Chess event ever held in Sri Lanka. This enthusiastic tournament was held at Oak Ray Regency Hotel, Kandy for six days with 836 participants.
‘64 Squares Chess Academy’, the leading chess academy in Sri Lanka has brought much fame to the island by producing world and Asian chess champions in the past decade. Kandy Open International Chess Festival, the event which offered more than one million rupees as its overall prize fund was organised by the 64 Squares Chess Academy in collaboration with the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, with the intension of uplifting the game to a professional level in the country. Two world class companies, HP and Abans also joined the event as Diamond sponsors.
This year’s edition had more attraction since it celebrated the 10th year of the journey. Kandy Open International Chess Festival always tried to change the direction of the Sri Lankan chess by providing the best facilities and the biggest prize fund in the island. In the last four years’ time the event showed a rapid advancement. The main organiser of the event, former Sri Lanka National Chess Champion and Olympiad Gold Medalist Fide Master Rajeendra Kalugampitiya stated that his team had a six-month preparation to give the best international level chess experience for the local players by providing a top class playing venue at Oak Ray Regency Hotel.
Kalugampitiya further stated that, in each year the event started to break its own records by attracting more players to the event. In 2016 there were 643 participants, which was the highest number at that time which was passed in 2017 by attracting 677 participants. In 2018 the event showed a great success by attracting 773 players from all over the country with nearly 30 foreign players. In 2019, marking a new chapter in Sri Lankan chess, 836 players from Sri Lanka and four other countries participated in the 10th Kandy Open.
In this year’s event, Indian International Master Mitrbah Guha was the top seed player with a rating of 2417. Even though the top three seeds at the starting ranking were held by three foreigner’s, Sri Lankan former National Chess champion Isuru Alahakoon, who played outstandingly, won the 10th Kandy Open chess crown, with a total of 10 points out of 11 rounds. Second place was won by the Indian top seat player Mitrabha Guha with 9.5 points. Third place was shared among nine players, who had scored 9 points out of 11 rounds. After the final tie breaks, former Sri Lankan chess champion Fide Master G.C. Anuruddha won the third place. Award for the best woman player was won by another former Sri Lanka women’s national chess champion – Dinushki Premanath with 9 points.
Isuru Alahakoon received Rs. 100,000 as his reward for the hard work done throughout six days. Apart from his main cash award he received a voucher worth Rs. 40,000 for winning the best Sri Lankan chess player award. Mitrabha Guha received Rs. 60,000 for his Silver Medal while Fide Master G.C. Anuruddha won his shared cash prize and Rs.35, 000 worth voucher for winning the second place among the Sri Lankan players. The 18-year-old S.R. Deegoda became the third among the best Sri Lankan chess players. He also received a Rs. 25,000 worth voucher along with his prize for the shared third place.
Kandy Open Blitz event, the speed chess event, is another major fact for player’s attraction for the event. This year’s blitz event was held on August 25. Organisers had to face a real problem when the applications exceed the expected number. Total of 538 players participated for this event.
Even though there are Blitz events parallel to other international events in Sri Lanka this is the only international rated blitz event in Sri Lanka which organizes with such an event. Indian player, Mitrbah Guha won the championship of this event with a perfect score of 8/8.
Pasan Liyanapathirana and Ranidu Dilshan shared the second and third place after the tie break. Both of them had 7.5/8 points. Tenara de Silva,
Sri Lanka’s highest rated female player, a proud product of 64 Squares International Chess Academy won the best female player award.
The closing ceremony was held on August 27 evening at the Oak Ray Regency. The Governor of the Central Province, Keerthi Thennkoon was the chief guest of the evening. Major Genaral Senarath Bandara, Kandy Muncipal Commissioner – Chandana Thennakoon , the Director of Sports , Central Province Jagath Keerthi, Managing Director of Senani Holdings – Sujeewa Palliyaguruge , also joined with the closing ceremony of the event. The 10th Kandy Open concluded with loads of great memories as well as writing the first page of the new era of Sri Lankan Chess.