Sivathanujan, Herath, Chenuka and Chanethma emerge winners in four concluded sectors
Sivananthan Sivathanujan of Kokavil Hindu College won the Northern Open event convincingly with an unbeaten record of 6.5 points out of the 7 rounds played in one of the four concluded sectors of the Sri Lanka Online National Chess Chamionship Cycle 2021. The game he played in the last round was shared with Jagatheshan Arthigan, the silver medalist of the event. Arthigan of Jaffna Hindu College won 5.5 points out of 7 rounds and the other two games he shared were played against Vidoosha Jayasinghe and G. Thanuharshan in the first and third rounds respectively.Aruthran Arunakirinathan of Jaffna Hindu College had to settle in at third place, not because of a difference in points, but due to the disadvantage in tie-breaker. In the second round, he had to respect B. Janukshan and his fifth round was shared with Dimuthu Abeywardhana.
From the beginning all events looked very interesting as all the top runners were close to each other. Movindi Herath of Maliyadeva Balika Vidyalaya was able to win the gold medal of the North Western Women’s event after winning 6 points out of the 7 games she played. The only game she lost was played against Oneli Vihanga Weerawardana in the fourth round. Ranpali Attanayake of Ferguson High School won 5.5 points out of the 7 rounds to clinch the silver medal with the advantage in tie-breaker.
The game she lost was against Herath in the last round while she drew her first game with Amadi Vidanapathirana. Prabhodi Methma Wijesinghe of Sabaragamuwa University was able to win the bronze medal with a slight difference of half a point in tie-breaker. In the third round, she had to satisfy with a half-a-point against Taniya Kumari and she lost her fifth round to Ranpali.
Chenuka Nethvidu Jayawardena of Aloysius College, who won 6 points out of the 7 games, claimed the gold medal in the Southern Open event with a gap of half-a-point from the silver medalist. Until the end, he was able to survive with an unbeaten record, and the games he played in the first and fifth rounds were shared with Gayaru Fernando and Haritha Hansana respectively. Haritha Hansana of Rahula College, won second place being unbeatenwith the advantage in the tie-breaker. Haritha drew two games with Thisal Manjith Piyumantha and Pamok Samaranayake in his 7 games while scoring 4 wins. The bronze medal went to Thisal Manjith Piyumatha of Dharmasoka College, who lost one game to Chenuka and a draw with Haritha.
Concluding the Central Women’s event, Chanethma Devangi Marasinghe of Girls’ High School won the gold medal at the end of a tough battle with the advantage in tie-breaker. She won 5.5 points out of 7 games played with last two games she played ending up as draws against Rumethma Thennakoon and a loss against Rashini Herath respectively. The silver medal was won by Wishwara Mapa of Girls’ High School with 5.5 points losing her fifth round game with Chanetma and having a draw in last round with Rumethma Thennakoon. Rashini Herath of Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology won the bronze medal with the difference in tie-breaker. Even though she lost the initial round against Oshadhi Piyathilaka in the first round, she ended the tournament in top three. She drew her game with Hesara Gunasekara.
The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL) is organising a comprehensive Online Rapid National Chess Championship Cycle for the first time in Sri Lanka started from the first week of June. The seven Novices Division events and seven Women’s Novices Division events have been finished so far successfully.
This event is the selection trial for the upcoming National Chess Championship in turn would be the selection event for the International Online Rapid Chess Championships to be held next year. The event will help all players to stay at home at this difficult time with supporting to grow their strength.
All events of the National Chess Championship Cycle is being held on the Chess.com platform with all the fair play regulations approved by FIDE, with a time control of 15 minutes and a 10-second increment for each move played.
The next event in line by CFSL is the Online SL National (Premier Division) Chess Championship 2021 which is the final Swiss System event of 11 rounds. All qualified players from Major Division and players having more than 1900 (Women over 1600) rating will be eligible to participate in the event. The first 16 players will qualify for the Online National Chess Championship 2021 finals.