India Dominates in Asian Junior and Girls Championships, Iran won the seniors

Indian players dominated in the Asian Junior Chess Championships held from 1st to 9th June at Bentota Beach Hotel, Bentota, Sri Lanka. Shyam Sundar, the top seed International Master from India won the Championship consecutively scoring 7 ½ points out of possible 9 games. He proves that he is superior by being unbeaten throughout the event. He was the Champion in the Asian Junior Chess Championships held in Chennai, India last year. Indian International Master, Srinath Narayanan managed to get the runner up position with 6 ½ points out of 9 games and CRG Krishna won the 3rd position on the tie breaker after tying with Omar Norman(UAE) and International Master Upadhyaya Anwesh (India) with 6 points.

The top seed Indian Candidate Master, Bhakti Kulkarni won the Asian Juniors Girls Chess Championships convincingly. She scored a total of 8 points out of nine games to earn the Women’s International Master Title and a WGM Norm. WFM, R. Bharathi from India had 7 points to reach the 2nd place on the tie breaker after tying with J Saranya, WFM from India. Saranya became 3rd in the event.

FIDE Master, Amir Sawadkuhi Iran had a great achievement in Asian Seniors Chess Championships held parallel to the Asian Juniors at the same venue. In the double round, round robin event he scored a total of 9 points out possible 10 games played. According to the FIDE regulations the winner of the regional Senior Champion receives an IM title as well as GM norm. Kian Hwa Lim from Malaysia won the 2nd place with 7 points while Abdullah Abdullah Ibrahim of Maldives won the Bronze medal after tying with Sarath Rupasinghe of Sri Lanka with 5 points.

The tournament was organized in a five star beach resort with excellent conditions for the players. Players enjoyed a lot while making a strong tournament as well. 7 Countries, Sri Lanka, India, UAE, Maldives, Malaysia, Iran and Nepal participated in the events.