Chess: Indian Sharma wins 7th Kandy Open Championship

Dinesh Sharma, an Indian International Master, won the 7th Kandy Open Chess Championship which was held at the NICD in Polgolla, Kandy. 

Sharma scored an impressive 9.5 out of a possible 10 to pocket the championship and the cash award of Rs. 100,000.

Youngster Harshana Thilakaratne won the second place after overcoming FIDE Master G.C. Anuruddha, who had to settle in for the third place. 

Both Thilakaratne and Anuruddha were tied for the second place along with three other players but the youngster was more impressive than the rest. 

Top seed Michael Gotel of the Philippines finished as overall fourth ahead of Osheen de Silva and Mojith Gunaratne. 

Former India national champion Dinukshi Premanath won the Women's title of the championship as Anutthara Chandrasiri, w Woemn's FIDE Master and Naduni Petthanayake finished at second and third respectively. 

The championship was organised by 64 Squares Chess Academy in collaboration with the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka.

A total of 650 players from Sri Lanka and overseas took part in the championship.