Zia and Liza of Bangladesh
wins Asian Zonal for Zone 3.2
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The Asian Zonal Chess Championships 2013 for Zone
3.2 was concluded in Sri Lanka making duel Champions from Bangladesh.
Ziaur Rahman, the reigning Champion had a tough task but had a hard
fought event to become the Champion again with 7 ½ point out
of the possible 9 games. He being unbeaten had only 3 draws against
two GMs Reefat Bin Sattar & Niaz Murshed and one local player Rajeendra
Kalugampitiys. He beat GC Anuruddha convincingly to become the Champion
which secured him a place at the next World Cup . Grandmasters, Reefat
Bin Satter & Niaz Murshed were closely following Zia, but had to
satisfy with the equal 2nd place having two draws in the last round
with two local players TSS Pieris and Romesh Weerawardena respectively.
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WIM Liza Shamima Aktar of Bangladesh had no opposition
and scored a total of 8 ½ points out of possible 9, just having
one draw with Manisha Sachini Gunaratne of Sri Lanka. She qualifies
for the Next Women’s World cup. Reigning Champion WIM Sachini
Ranasinghe had a rough event where she had two defeats against Liza
and Nelunika Methmani from Sri Lanka. But, she managed to get the Silver
Medal in the event with 6 ½ points. Nelunika Methmani who is
just 15 years displayed excellent skill to won the Bronze medal with
the WIM title scoring 6 points out of 9 games just losing to the winner.
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Nelunika Methmani |
Manisha Suchini Gunaratne
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Sharmin Shrin Sultana of Bangladesh and Manisha Suchini
Gunaratne of Sri Lanka also scored 6 points and won the WFM title as
per the FIDE regulations for the Zonals.
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Romesh Weerawardena
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Sajith Pieris |
Prasanna Kurukulasuriya
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Romesh Weerawardena created the Sri Lankan Chess History
scoring 6 points out of 9 games, having a well erned draw with the Grand
Master Niaz Murshed by becoming the 1st International Master of Sri
Lanka. Prasanna Kurukulasuriya and Sajith Pieris of Sri Lanka also scored
6 points each and earned FIDE Master titles.
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The Asian Zonal Chess Championship 2013 was organized
by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka from 2nd to 9th February 2013 at
the MAS Fabric Park Institution and Hotel, Thulhiriya, Sri Lanka. Forty
Six Players (34 men and 12 women) from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal,
Maldives and Sri Lanka participated in the event. You may get the tournament
details from www.chess-results.com
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The Awards Ceremony was held under the patronage
of Mr. Upali Gunasekara, the President of Chess Federation of Sri Lanka,
Mr. Miswa Deen, CEO, MAS Institution and Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya, the
President, Zone 3.2 of President.
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The prize winners;
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Women
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Luxman Wijesuriya
Hony. Secretary – CFSL
President – Zone 3.2
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Photos
By Mr. Ruwan Gunaratne |
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