Sanudula Dahamdi emerge champion
Dahamdi (seated right) with other participants and CFSL official Lakshman Wijesuriya
Sanudula Dahamdi of Musaeus College won the 2nd Sri Lanka Women’s Chess Grand Prix 2021 convincingly concluded at the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka headquarters. The 14-year-old led the event from the start and finished with 9 points out of possible 11 games.
She strongly came up with a win in the penultimate round, the crucial game against the silver medalist, Niklesha Tharusi. Having a 1 point lead, she got a draw in the final round with Esha Pallie to finish the event.
She lost only to Sandeepani Tharushi, while earning two draws with Dasuni Mendis and Esha Pallie and won all other eight games. Sanudula is awarded the championship trophy, gold medal and Rs. 30,000 in cash.
Dahamdi, the champion
Niklesha Tharushi of Visakha Vidyalaya also had a good event with following Sanudula very closely from the start but lose in the penultimate round did the damage. With the final round win she won the silver medal and Rs. 20,000 in cash.
Pasindi Yathra Wijesuriya managed to equalise Dasuni Mendis also from Visakha Vidyalaya with 7 points due to her loss in the last round to a lesser rated player. Pasindi won the bronze medal on the better tie breaker.
Pasindi with a good day scored two wins against Oshini Gunawardena and Gaveshi Wickramarathne in 10th and 11th rounds. Dasuni beat Gimashi Weerathunga in the 10th round and lost to Jayandi Bimansa in the last round. They share the third and fourth cash awards of Rs. 16,000. The fifth place went to Esha Pallie of Visakha Vidyalaya.
The 2nd Sri Lanka Women’s Chess Grand Prix 2021 was conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka with a total prize money of Rs. 70,000. Only 12 top players in the country participated in the strongest Women Chess events which was conducted on Round Robin Basis for 11 rounds.
Winner recieves the main award
Final Standings
Rank Name Club/School Pts.
1. WCM Dahamdi Sanudula Musaeus College -9
2. WCM Niklesha Tharushi Visakha Vidyalaya -8
3. WCM G.P.Y. Wijesuriya Visakha Vidyalaya -5
4. WFM Dasuni Hansika Mendis Visakha Vidyalaya -7
5. WCM Ehsha Mishela Pallie Visakha Vidyalaya – 6½
6. Tharushi Sandeepani Devi Balika Vidyalaya -6
7. N.T. Abeywardana -5½
8. Janandani Abeysinghe NSBM Green University -4½
9. Oshini Gunawardhana Ferguson High School -3½
10. Gimashi Dewlini Weeratunga Anula Vidyalaya -3½
11. Bimansa Jayandi Bandaragama Central College-3
12. Gaveshi Wickramarathne Castle Siege Chess Club -2½