University of Sri Jayewardenepura retain title
Sasith Nipun
University of Sri Jayewardenepura Chess Club (USJPCC) team emerged champions for the second consecutive year at the Sri Lanka National Inter-Club Super League Chess Championship 2021 even before two rounds to complete the event. At the conclusion they scored 17 points out of total 18 possible and 5 points ahead of the runner-up team, a remarkable feat.
USJPCC beat Blue and Gold in the penultimate round and drew (3-3) in the final before clinching the title. National chess champion, Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage led the scoring for USJPCC team with 8½ points out of 9 games he played, which is outstanding. With this he passed the millstone of 2200 international rating barrier.
Chamika Perera played the captain’s role very well with a score of 8 points out of 9 games. He was the national chess champion 2011 and has represented the country at many international chess events, including couple of Olympiads. But he had to stay out of active chess for some time due to working commitments. Being in the top board, Lakshitha Randhil also performed well to score 6 points with an unbeaten performance. G.T.D.M. Premachandra, A.A.C.B. Amarasinghe, CMS Praneeth Kumar and Akhila Rathnayake also performed up to their expectations.
The core chess team event in the country, the Sri Lanka National Inter-Club Chess Championship 2021, was conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL) from February 26 to March 2 with a total prize money of Rs. 120,000 the at Sanhinda Hall in Gangodawila. The championship was played on the round robin system with the strongest 10 clubs in Sri Lanka in 9 rounds. The last two teams in the ranking were eliminated from the Sri Lanka Inter-Club Super League this year and the top two teams of the Sri Lanka Inter-Club ‘B’ Championship 2021 will be entered to the top event next year.
Ranindu Liyanage
The games of the first three matches were webcasted live using DGT Boards while a live streaming of the day started at 5.00pm every day in the CFSL Facebook page with commentaries by the former national champions, Dulan Edirisinghe and International Master Harshana Thilakarathne along with FIDE Master L.M.S.T. de Silva, who is also one of the strongest players in Sri Lanka.
Anandians Chess Club won the bronze medal on the better tie-breaker after tying with Super Knight Chess Club team with 12 points. Anandians drew with Sri Lanka Navy (3-3) in the 8th round and Grand Prix Chess Club (3-3) in the final round. Theeksana Denuwan played the most important role for Anandians, scoring 7 points out of 9 games. Chathulanka Gamage and Chirasana Lamahewa also scored 5½ points each which was much valuable.
Being the only team to come in for the first time to play Super League from Inter-Club ‘B’ last year, Super Knights did well to reach the second runners-up position. They beat Grand Prix CC (4-2) in the 8th round and Kandy YMCA (3½-2½) in the final round. Gayan Pieris led the scoring for Super Knights with 6 points.
The absence of Nf3 Chess Club, the long surviving team in the Super League and new entrants Pera Knights due to the ongoing situation of the country was greatly felt.
| The games of the first three matches were webcasted live using DGT Boards while a live streaming of the day started at 5.00pm every day in the CFSL Facebook page with commentaries by the former national champions, Dulan Edirisinghe and International Master Harshana Thilakarathne along with FIDE Master L.M.S.T. de Silva, who is also one of the strongest players in Sri Lanka. | |
| Board Prize Winners | |
| Board 1: Laksith Randhil (USJPCC) Board 2: Damith Karunarathne (Blue and Gold CC) Board 3: Chamil Priyankara (SL Navy) Board 4: CM W.C.C. Perera (USJPCC) Board 5: FM Minul Doluweera (Blue and Gold CC) Board 6: CM Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage (USJPCC) Board 7: T.N. Alahakoon (Grand Prix CC) Board 8: S. Harishman (Blue and Gold CC) Rank Final Standings Points |
The winning team captain, Chamika Perera
National champion receiving his Board Prize as the best performer of the event
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, the overall winners
Super Knight team finished third overall among 10 teams
The Anandians finished second best