Colombo International Chess Festival International Rating Chess Tournament
By Luxman Wijesuriya
PDS Girinath , the International Chess Master from India won the Colombo International Chess Festival conducted by the passed Pawns Chess Club one be half of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka and FIDE. The event was held from 20th to 24th February 2008 at Indra Hotel, Kadawatha with a total Prize fund of Rs . 150,000/=
A total of 156 players participated in the event with 9 Chess players from India . Mr. Girinath scored a total of 8 points out of possible 9 to claim the Luxman Wijesuriya Trophy, the gold medal and Rs . 40,000/= in cash. He had couple of draws with Tejaswini Reddy in the 6th round and with Athula Russell in the final round. Athula Russell and GC Anuruddha , the National Chess Champion joined for the second place claiming Rs . 20,000 each, but Athula was awarded the Silver in the better tie breaker. Anuruddha was awarded with the Silver medal. Cash awards were awarded till the 10th position and the best three girls and Chess Clocks were awarded to age group and rating category prizes.
Women's championship was won by Tejaswini Reddy from India while 13 year old Pravardhi Chathurika Senarath of Vihara Maha Devi Vidyalaya and Dhakshika Gunawardena were 2nd and 3rd respectively.
The total results are given below:
Champion - PDS Girinath ( India )
Joint 1st Rnner up - MK Athula Russell
- GC Anuruddha
4th Equal - Prasanna Kurukulasuriya
- TGM Pieris
- Danuke Kuruppu
7th Equal - Shamine De Moraes
- CM Rajapakse
- B. Vishvanath Sandaliya ( India )
- Marlon Fernando and
- Akhila Miraj
Women's best players
Champion - Tejaswini Reddy ( India )
1st runner up - Pravardhi Chathurika Senarath ( Vihara Maha Devi Balika Vidyalaya , Kiribathgoda .)
2nd runner up - Dhakshika Gunawardena ( Vishaka Vidyalaya )
Best unrated players
Champion - WA Lasith Subash
Joint runner up - HG Sahan Sachintha
- Vasantha Wettasinghe
- PD Senanayake
- AACBJB Amarasinghe
- KAI Abhimanyu Rathnasekera
- MNG Jayarathna
Best rated below 2000 players
Champion - HLM Hapuarachchi ( Kingswood College )
Joint runner up - Y Chjamil Priyankara ( Devapathiraja College )
- N. Rasheen De Silva ( Devananda College )
Best rated below 1800 players
Champion - Atharva Godbole ( India )
Runner up - Irindu Basnayake ( Girls High School )
Best Under 15 Years
Champion - KOV Kottahachchy ( Royal College ) ( 6 points)
Joint 1st - MR Akthar (St. Anthony's College )( 6 points)
Joint 1st - RA Isira Samintha (6 points)
- Keshan Egodage ( Dharmashoka College )( 6 points)
- Kalana Yasas ( Isipathana College )( 6 points)
Best Under 15 Years Girls
Champion - Priya Reddy ( India ) (5.5 points)
Joint runner up - Sachini Dinushima Ranasinghe ( Musaeus College ) (5 points)
- Yashmi Lamawansa ( Girls High School ) (5 points)
- Jayani Nanayakkara (5 points)
Best Under 12 Years
Champion - Senith Deelaka Munasinghe (DS Senanayake College) (5.5 points)
1st runner up - Dimithri Mudith Hemachandra ( Kaluthara Vidyalaya ) (5 points)
2nd runner up - KAPM Ariyawansa ( Vidyartha College ) (4.5 points)
Best Under 12 Years Girls
Champion - S. Dulara Kumarasinghe ( Southland College ) (4 points)
Joint 1st - PKUM Muhandiram (Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala ) (4 points)
Joint 1st - Kavindi Nanayakkara ( Southland College ) (4 points)
Joint 1st - Samadini Pinto (Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala ) (4 points)
Best Under 10 Years
Champion - Sandalu Vidyalankara ( Asian International School ) (5 points)
Joint runner up - Mojitha Gunarathna ( Ananda College ) (4.5 points)
- Supun Dasantha Kuruppu ( Ananda College ) (4.5 points)
Best Under 10 Years Girls
Champion - Kusara Randini De Silva ( Southland College ) (4 points)
Joint 1st - Manuji Attanayake (4 points)
Joint 1st - Anagi Kottahachchi ( Musaeus College ) (4 points)
Joint 1st - Piyumi Gunawardena ( Visakha Vidyalaya )( 4 points)
Luxman Wijesuriya ,Organising Secretary
