Susal and Sachini reign supreme
Winners of all categories, including Open and Women, with Luxman Wijesuriya, the President of CFSL after the awards ceremony
The reigning national champion, 17-year-old FIDE Master, Susal de Silva of Nalanda College retained the Men’s title while four-time winner Sachini Ranasinghe emerged victorious in the Women’s category at the
Sri Lanka National Chess Championship 2022. Susal secured the title for the second successive year scoring 10 points out of possible 13 games in the Men’s segment. Susal, who is one of the most promising chess players in the country, kept the lead from the beginning, and beat his rival Ranindu Liyanage in the eighth round, which gave him the much needed tie breaking points to win the National Championship. He claimed the trophy, the gold medal and in addition to sharing a cash award of Rs. 112,500.
Susal beat A.A.C.B. Amarasinghe, Isuru Alahakoon, Dhanushka Bandara, Chandana Wijekoon S.D.B.K. Senevirathne, Brijeash Sarawanabhawan, Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage and N.P.G. Sithija Lahiru while drawing with Nabil Nazar, K.G.T.S.D. Kiriealla, Lisara Samadith Tennakoon and Elath Mathanga de Silva. He lost only to Achinthya Shamane Kaluarachchi to earn 10 points.
Experienced Sachini emerged the Women's champ
Top seed FIDE Master, Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage of Ananda College also scored 10 points out of possible 13 games, but has to satisfy with the silver medal on tie breaking points. Ranindu beat Brijeash Sarawanabhawan,Thumula Kiriealla, N.P.G. Sithija Lahiru, Elath Mathanga, Achintha Shyamane Kaluarachchi, Lisara Samadith Tennakoon, A.A.C.B. Amarasinghe, Dhanushka Bandara and S.D.B.K. Senevirathne, drew with Chandana Wijekoon and Nabil Nazar and lost two games to champion Susal and Isuru Alahakoon to score 10 points. He claimed the silver medal in the process.
FIDE Master, Isuru Alahakoon of Sri Lanka Navy, managed to place third with 8½ points out of 13 games. Isuru beat Elath Mathanga de Silva, Chandana Wijekoon, Nabil Nazar, Ranindu Liyanage, A.A.C.B. Amarasinghe, Dhanushka Bandara and S.D.B.K. Senevirathne, drew with Brijeash Saravanabhawan, Thumula Kiriella and N.P.G. Sithija Lahiru and lost to L.M.S.T. de Silva, Achinthya Shamane Kaluarachchi and Lisara Tennakoon to win the bronze medal. Thumula Kiriella of Maliyadeva College scored 8 points while Nabil Nazar Mohomed of Gateway College scored 7½ points to place fifth overall.
Players at the awards ceremony, which was held at Taj Samudra
Four-time Women’s champion, Women International Master, Sachini Ranasinghe won her fifth national title convincingly, scoring 9 points out of possible 13 games. She beat Pasindi Wijesuriya, Oneli Vithanawasam, Janandani Abeysinghe, Nemindi Ramanayake, Tiumi Yashora, W.M.M.N. Wijesinghe and Wishwara Mapa, drew with Yasasi Abeysekara, Chamodya Yapabandara, Desandi Gamage and Esha Mihisha Pallie. Her two loses came against Sanudula Dahamdi and Minethma Wickramasinghe. Sachini earned the Women’s National title, the gold medal and a cash award of Rs.100,000.
Desandi Dihansa Gamage of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya was placed second with 8½ points out of 13 games. She recorded wins against Tiyumi Yashora, Wishwara Mapa, Pasindi Wijesuriya, Oneli Vithanawasam, Chamodya Yapabandara, Minethma Wickramasinghe and Yasasi Geemini Abeysekara, drew with Sanudula Dahamdi, Sachini Ranasinghe and Nemindi Ramanayake and lost to W.M.M.N. Wijesinghe and Esha Pallie to earn the silver medal.
Nalanda's Susal de Silva won the Open title
Janandani Abeysinghe of NSBM Green University, won the third place with 8 points. She beat Sanudula Dahamdi, Oneli Vithanawasam, Yasasi Geemini Abeysekara, Minethma Wickramasinghe, Nemindi Ramanayake, Desandi Gamage and Wishwara Mapa. She drew with Esha Pallie and Pasinidi Wijesuriya and lost four games, against Sachini Ranasinghe, Chamodya Yapabandara, Tiyumi Yashora and W.M.M.N. Wijesinghe to earn the bronze medal. Pasindi Yathra Wijesuriya of Passed Pawn Chess Club, scored 7½ points out of 13 games to finish fourth while Minethma Lasandi Wickramasinghe scored 7 points each with Wishwara Mapa to place fifth on a better tie breaker.
The top five players in both categories will be eligible to compete with the Sri Lanka National Open and Women Chess teams which will participate in the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022 in India.
The Golden Jubilee Year
Sri Lanka National Chess Championships 2022 – Open and Women’s – was conducted by the Chess Federation of
Sri Lanka (CFSL). The best 14 players of each segment in
Sri Lanka competed in round robin system in 13 rounds for the supremacy.
The awards ceremony held on May 1 at Taj Samudra Hotel, soon after the final round. Luxman Wijesuriya, the President CFSL, General Secretary of the Commonwealth Chess Association and Shiang Wong, Deputy General Manager – Product Marketing of SLT Mobitel, the main sponsor, distributed the awards.
Players who reached the final round