Anandian Ranindu Dilshan checkmates the rest
Chief guest Lakshman Wijesuriya (2nd left) with the winners (from left) - Minul, champion Ranindu and Theekshana
Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage of Ananda College, the reigning national chess champion, showed true class that he is the strongest of all after the first tie breaker of the Rapid Games, which happened since the Classical Games ended in equal points with two draws with Minul Sanjula Doluweera of Royal College.
Minul started off with white in the first round and opened with the queen’s gambit to end the round with a tame draw. In the second round Ranindu started with E4 and Minul’s answer was a Carro Khann defense, C6. Ranindu replied with advance E4 and again agreed to a draw in the 28th move.
An accepted fact that Ranindu is better in faster chess, he proved himself better by scoring a win in the first Rapid Game and giving a draw with a winning position in the second game. Thus Ranindu became the champion of the 8th Sri Lanka Chess Grand Prix 2021 and won Rs 50,000, a trophy and the gold medal.
Overall winner Ranindu
Minul had to settle down with the silver medal and a cash award of Rs. 30,000. He was awarded with the winner’s trophy of the Preliminary Round Robin event.
Runner-up Minul
In the consolation final, Theekshana Denuwan of Ananda College beat S. Sivathanujan in the first game and drew in the second round to earn the bronze medal and a cash award of Rs. 20,000. Sivathanujan, of Kokavil Hindu College, finished overall fourth and received Rs. 10,000 as cash award.
A total of 12 leading chess players participated in the 8th Sri Lanka Chess Grand Prix 2021which was held from January 28 to February 7, that was conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka under the strict health guidelines.
The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka offered a cash award of Rs. 110,000 for the winners with other attractive awards. The awards ceremony was held on February 7, soon after the finals with Luxman Wijesuriya, the President of the Chess Federation gracing the occasion chief guest.