A sixteen year school boy from Ananda College, Colombo, Ranindu Liyanage was crowned as the National Chess Champion convincingly at Hotel Taj Samudra yesterday. Ranindu who was playing excellent Chess from the beginning since 11th September, concluded with a total of 10 ½ points out of possible thirteen. Young Ranindu who suffered a loss to CC Weerasinghe at the penultimate round , gave only three draws to LMST De Silva, Lakshitha Weerapermall and Gayantha Dissanayake as he went on to beat all other opponents to reach the top spot. He gained the most prestigious National Chess Champion title, cash prize of Rs. 100,000/= with the Trophy and the Gold medal.

Nethmi Fernando of Girls High School Kandy was crowned as Sri Lanka Women’s National Chess Champion scoring 10 points out of 13 games. She had an excellent start in the first half of the event scoring 6 ½ points out of 7 games and started the second half of the event with a loss of two games to Sandeepani Tharushi and Newanji Hewawasam. But she came back strongly to score 3 ½ out of 4 in the last four rounds. Nethmi is also 16 years and played strong chess to gain the Women’s National Chess Champion title with Rs. 60,000/= in cash and the Gold Medal and the Trophy.

The Sri Lanka National/ Women’s National Chess Championship 2020 conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka from 11th to 21st September 2020, was a great success. The Chess Federation had organized the event in a grand manner at Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, where His Excellency, The Ambassador of the Republic of Germany was the Chief Guest. Mrs. Sandamali Aviruppola, Principal, Visakha Vidyalaya and Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya, The President of Chess Federation, General Secretary of South Asian Chess Council and Commonwealth Chess Association and Vice President of Asian Chess Federation gave away awards with Mr. Deepthi Hewageegana, the Deputy President.

Minul Doluweera of Royal College Colombo also had a good event where he scored 10 points out of the total 13. Unfortunately, he lost to Ranindu in the Championship battle and had to satisfy with the silver medal. He played an exciting game with International Master, Romesh Weerawardane in the final Round where a position of famous mating net arrived after Minul’s 21st move.. 1.d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 a6 5.e3 dxc4 6.Bxc4 b5 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.O-O c5 9. Dxc5 Bxc5 10.a3 Nbd7 11. B4 Bb6 12. Bb2 O-O 13.Qe2 Rc8 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.Ng5 Nc5 16.Nce4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Nxe4 Nc4 19. Kh8 Nf6 20. Qc2 gxf6 21. Bxf6 Kg8 22.Qe4 h5 23.Qh4 1-0

Fourteen year old, Susal De Silva of Nalanda College did not had much glory at the event but was satisfied with Bronze Medal in the Nationals. Being the youngest players out of all fourteen players, he has a long way to go. He gained the Bronze Medal and Rs. 25,000/= in cash. Young Theekshana Denuwan of Ananda College who is also 16 years performed to placed fourth earning Rs. 15,000/ while International Master Romesh Weerawardane placed fifth to receive Rs. 10,000/= In the women’s section, Tharushi Sandeepani of Devi Balika Vidylaya won the silver while Ashvini Pavalachandran of Wycherley International School went on to win the bronze.

The Chess Federation felicitated Sri Lankan Chess Hero, Master Harshana Thilakarathne of Maliyadeva College, with Rs. 250,000/= in cash, who reached the 2400 in the FIDE Ranking and received the International Master Title from FIDE, the World Chess Federation. He reached this rating after 36 years , as FIDE Master Harsha Aturupane reached to the level in 1986. Since the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka has invited all National Champions of Sri Lanka, former stars such as Harsha and Harinlal Aturupane and Suneetha Wijesuriya were present at the Awards Ceremony. All games were lively webcasted.