Sri Lanka in online Chess Olympiad
FIDE, the World Chess Federation, has decided to hold an online Chess Olympiad for the year 2020 on July 24 and 25.
They are expecting at least 180 countries to participate in the event. A new format is also introduced for the event as two males, two females, one Junior (Under-20) boy and a girl to complete the team. A country may include the same number of reserves as well. The event will be held in five stages and Sri Lanka will be part of the third stage of the event which begins on August 4.
The National Selection Committee has selected a 12-member team to participate in this prestigious chess event. They are G.M.H. Thilakarathne (captain, Maliyadeva College), Isuru Alahakoon (SL Navy), Devnethmi Dahampriya (Visakha Vidyalaya), Ashvini Pavalchandran (Wycherly International School), Susal de Silva (Nalanda College), Sayuni Gihansa Jayaweera (Dharmasoka College), G.C. Anuruddha (Kandy YMCA CC), Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage (Ananda College), Nethmi Fernando (Girls High School, Kandy), Sachini Ranasinghe (Nf3 Chess Club), Minul Sanjula Doluweera (Royal College) and Niklesha Tharushi (Visakha Vidyalaya).
The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka has appointed Ransith Fernando as the Manager and Rajeendra Kalugampitiya as the Coach of the team.
Susal de Silva in the lead
Meanwhile chess became the first sport to start their national chess calendar after a lapse of four months due to the lock down caused by the Covid-19 epidemic. The Chess Federation started their events with the 7th Sri Lanka Grand Prix 2020 with the participation of 12 leading players in the country in a 11 round, round robin championship at the Chess Federation headquarters in Nugegoda from July 11.
Susal de Silva of Nalanda College with 51/2 points led the preliminary round out of six possible games.
Other team members following Silva are G.C. Anuruddha and Kevin Ranidu Silva (St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena with 41/2 Points each) and Minul Doluweera with 4 points. The final round will be played this weekend.
Results of the completed rounds are as follows: Minul Doluweera beat Thisal Manjith Piyumantha, Kevin Ranidu de Silva beat E.D.S. Chandula, Romesh Weerawardena drew with Chandana Wijekoon, Jenith Weeratunge beat A.A.C.B. Amarasinghe, G.C. Anuruddha beat Dimuthu Abeywardene, Elath Mathannga lost to Susal de Silva.