Suneetha Wijesuriya well known Chess promoter, Gold medalist at the 30th FIDE World Chess Olympiad 1992 was awarded the Outstanding Game Changer of Chess in Asia yesterday. The International Chess Federation has named 2022 as the year of Women Chess and this awards ceremony was hold to recognize the strength of Women Chess players and related activists.

The awards was made in 13 categories as best players, Best performing countries, Educators, Trainers, Arbiters, Organizers, administrators, politicians, media, photographers, disable performance, He for She (Males who did best for women Chess) with the outstanding Game changers who have devoted for developing the game. They awarded these awards for four different continents and Suneetha is awarded as the Best Game Changer in Asia.(complete list of winners)

Since the award was declared in last minute she could not be present physically there to accept the Award from Grand Master Vishwanathan Anand, the five times World Chess Champion from India. Suneetha Wijesuriya started her Chess in 1979 and she won the 2nd place at the Inaugural Women’s National Chess Championship in the same year. Later on she won the Sri Lanka Women’s National Chess Championship for 10 years until she stopped her active Chess journey in 1998. She won a Gold Medal at the 30th FIDE World Chess Olympiad 2022 which was held in Manila, Philippines. She is the 1st Women FIDE master of Sri Lanka achieved the title for her Gold medal performances.