Damsara and Januki win National Chess titles
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Damsara Bandara Rajanayake and Januki Alwis secured the main titles at the Junior and Girls National Chess Championships 2023 held at the Berrewaerts Royal College in Ampitiya, Kandy during August 18 to 21.
Damsara won the Open title while Januki secured the Girls’ championship after commendable performances at the event organised by the Kandy District Chess Association, on behalf of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka. Both championships followed a 9-round Swiss System format with a time control of 90 minutes and an addition of a 30-second increment from the first move.
In the Open category 368 participants were in fray for the title. Damsara of Dharmaraja College, Kandy emerged the champion, securing 8 out of 9 points. His undefeated performance included two draws in the sixth and ninth rounds. For the runner-up positions, seven players were tied. W.M.S.S.B. Dharmasena of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala and K.A.R.G.W.D.R.B.G. Galkotuwa of Dharmaraja College, Kandy secured the first and second runners-up spots respectively.
Among the 250 competitors in the Girls’ segment, Januki of Lyceum International School, Wattalala clinched the title with an 8 out of 9 score. Remaining unbeaten throughout the event, she drew two games in the seventh and eighth rounds. G.W. Nethmi L Fernando of Girls’ High School, Kandy shared the same score but had to settle for the first runner-up position due to tiebreak rules. Two players with 7.5 out of 9 points vied for the second runner-up spot. Ultimately, H. Sandithi Kusalya Alwis of Anula Vidyalaya secured the position due to a superior tiebreak score.
The awards ceremony was conducted in the presence of Rajendra Kalugampitiya, the Vice President, Trainers’ Commission, of Chess Federation of Sri Lanka.