Dasuni Hansika Mendis of Visakha Vidyalaya won the Sri Lanka National Chess Championships convincingly scoring 10 points out of the possible 13 points. Dasuni who is just 13½ years in age studying in grade 9 is the youngest Women’s National Chess Champion after the Women’s National Championships was started in 1979. Dasuni Scored 9 wins, two draws and 2 losses in this 13 Games round robin Chess Championships and received Rs. 20,000/= in cash with the beautiful National Chess Championship trophy with the Gold medal.

Isuru Alahakoon of Sri Lanka Navy showed that he is the best in Sri Lanka winning the Nationals for the 3rd consecutive year. He also scored 10 points out of possible 13 games. He scored 8 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss earn The National Chess Championship for the 3rd consecutive year. He earned Rs. 30,000/= with the Gold Medal and the National Championship trophy.

The National and Women’s National Chess Championships 2014 conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka was held from 15th to 24th March 2014 at the National Institute of Sport Science, Colombo 07. The best 28 players each in Open and women sections participated in this 13 round, Round Robin Chess Championships. The competition was fierce since the National teams for the Chess Olympiad teams are to be selected from this National Chess Championships. A total cash award of Rs. 171,000/= was awarded among the winners of the National Championship Cycle. The last year’s Women’s National Champion, Women International Master, Sachini Ranasinghe played in the Sri Lanka National Chess Championship being the 1st women player to play in the Sri Lanka National Chess Championship after it became a FIDE event.

Rajeendra Kalugampitiya of Fischer Chess Club also played with consistency and scored 9 points to achieve the 2nd place and won the Silver Medal. Chamika Perera of Trinity College tied with FIDE Master Prasanna Kurukulasuriya and won the Bronze medal on the better tie breaker. Chamika has won the Sri Lanka National in the year 2011. Prasanna had to satisfy with the 4th place. The most experienced GC Anuruddha placed 5th after tying with International Master Romesh Weerawardena of Fisher Chess Club. WSVK Koggala, Niranga Kandearachchi, KOV Kottahachchi, Kashyapa Kulasekara, Akhila Kavinda, Mojitha Gunaratne, Wiman Wijespura and Women International Master, Sachini Ranasinghe participated in the event.

UGY Methmali of Sri Jayawardenapura University won the 2nd place in the Women’s National Championship with 8.5 points to get the Silver Medal. She was the most senior player in the event even winning the prestigious National Championship twice in 2004 and 2005. Tiumi Yashora, also from Visakha Vidyalaya placed 3rd with 8 points and earned the Bronze Medal. Women’s Fide Masters SAK Chandrasiri (Girls High School), Supershala Thilakawardena (Colombo University) tied with Shelani De Silva (Holy Family Convent) with 7 ½ points and won the 4th, 5th and 6th places consecutively on the tie breaker. Dilhara Ishini Wickramasinghe, WIM Nelunika Methmani, WFM Manisha Suchini Gunaratne, Pevinya Pieris, Saumi Zainab, Thinithi Shanika Ranasinghe, KWDMHU Koswatte and S Vithiyarani (Jaffna) participated in the Women’s National Chess Championship this year.

The Sri Lanka Women’s National Chess Championship was started in 1979 and 1st Women’s National Champion was late Miss Anoja Senevirate. WEM Suneetha and Vineetha Wijesuriya kept the title for 20 years. Amarangi De Silva, Malintha Fernando, UGY Methmali, WFM Pramodya Senanayake, WFM Dinushki Premanath, and WIM Sachini Ranasinghe kept the title during the 34 years.