Buddhika and Dahamdi emerge amateur chess champions

Winners with officials and guests of honour.

Buddhika Amarasinghe (SJP Chess Club) and Dahamdi Sanudula (Museaus College) excelled at the Sri Lanka National Amateur Chess Championship 2020 concluded on Sunday.

The top seed of the open section, Buddika Amarasinghe scored eight points in nine games and conceded just a solitary defeat at the hands of first runner up Y. Jayaweera on his way to winning the championship along with Rs. 40,000.00.

Half-a-point behind him was Y. Jayaweera (Kandy YMCA Chess Club) and youngster Mohamed Nabil Nazir (Gateway College – Dehiwala) tied for the second place on 7.5 points. Ultimately Jayaweera came out on top by virtue of a superior performance in the tie break to walk home with the silver. Nabil settled for the bronze. Both receiving a shared cash award of Rs. 20,000.00.

In the women’s section, Dahamdi Sanudula emerged victorious as she remained unbeaten to score nine points. She was awarded the Trophy, gold medal and a cash award of Rs. 25,000.00.

Tharushi Sandeepani of Devi Balika Vidyalaya clinched the silver medal and a cash award of Rs. 15,000.00. She scored 7.5 points. Tharuli Vihasna Ranganath (Yoshida Shokanji International School) with 6.5 points was the second runner up. She received the bronze and Rs. 10,000.00.

Sri Lanka National Amateur Chess Championships was conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka for the players who are below the 2000 mark in FIDE ratings and players not bearing any FIDE titles greater than CM. The event was held from October 1 to 4 at the Sanhida Reception Hall on the Swiss System in nine rounds. A total of 170 players, 119 men and 51 women participated.

Up to 15 players from the open category and 10 from the women’s category walked home with cash prizes.

The Prize Distribution was held just after the event attended by Malith Akalanka, the Secretary and other officials of the CFSL.