Vineetha gets off to a good start

Chess Nationals

Defending Women's National Champion, Vineetha Wijesuriya got off to a splendid start in the Women's National 'A' Chess Championship currently being held at Majestic Tourist Hotel, Ampitiya, Kandy winning both her first two games.

Meanwhile Anjana Perera defeated Supeshala Thilakawardena and Navodya Selvaratnam to share the top spot with Wijesuriya. In the first round, Vineetha beat Lumbini Ambanwela and in the afternoon round quickly got the better of Dinushki Premanath. Debutants Iridu Basnayake and Mihirani Jayatillake did well to hold the more experienced Ayodhya Liyanagedera and Sachini Ranasinghe to draws, respectively.

In the second round Sachini Ranasinghe and Ayodya Liyanagedera got the better of Lumbini Ambanwela and Mihirani Jayatillake respectively.

The full results after Day One of this 13 round Round Robin tournament are as follows:

ROUND ONE
Lihini Walallawita beat Samanthi Wettasinghe, Iridu Basnayake drew with Ayodhya Liyanagedera, Mihirani Jayatillake drew with Sachini Ranasinghe, Lumbini Ambanwela lost to Vineetha Wijesuriya, Dinushki Premnath drew with Navodya Selvaratnam, Anjana Perera beat Supeshala Thilakawardena, and Dilini Umesha beat Harshani Konara

ROUND TWO
Samanthi Wettasinghe drew with Harshani Konara, Supesha Thilakawardena drew with Dilini Umesha, Vineetha Wijesuriya beat Dinushki Premnath, Sachini Ranasinghe beat Lumbini Ambanwela, Ayodhya Liyanagedera beat Mihirani Jayatillake, Lihini Walallawita drew with Iridu Basnayake, and Navodya Selvaratnam lost to Anjana Perera

Standings after 2 Rounds (number of points within brackets):
Vineetha Wijesuriya and Anjana Perera (2), Ayodhya Liyanagedera, Lihini Walallawita, Sachini Ranasinghe and Dilini Umesha (1.5), Irindu Basnayake (1) Samanthi Wettasinghe, Harshani Konara, Supeshala Thilakawardena, Navodya Selvaratnam, Mihirani Jayatillake and Dinushki Premnath (0.5), Lumbini Ambanwela (0.0).