Pesandu wins Sri Lanka Chess Grand Prix 2022

Pesandu Rashmitha Liyanage of D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo won the Championship of the Sri Lanka Chess Grand Prix 2022 when he beat S. Sivathanujan of Kokavil Hindu College 1 ½ – ½ in the finals. In the double round finals, Pesandu won his first game with white pieces and forced a draw in the second game.

Liyanage earned Rs. 60,000.00, the Gold Medal and the Championship Trophy. Earlier in the semi-finals, he beat Osheen de Silva.

Sivathanujan settled for the silver medal and a cash award of Rs. 40,000.00.

In the consolation final, Osheen de Silva of Sri Lanka Navy beat Vinuda Shenal Gunatilake of Royal College 1 ½ – ½ . He beat Vinuda in the first round and drew the second round encounter to finish with 1 ½ . He received Rs. 25,000.00 and the bronze medal.

Vinuda had to satisfy with the fourth place and a cash award of Rs. 15,000.00. Buddhika Amarasinghe beat Kosala Sandeepa Amarasinghe and was placed fifth place and became eligible to receive a cash award of Rs. 10,000.00.

The 9th Sri Lanka Chess Grand Prix 2022, conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka had two stages. In the first stage, two round Robin events were played with nine rounds. Nine players competed. Unfortunately, Surath Wijeratne withdrew from the event after the first round and a point was given to all opponents in each round.

During the second stage, a knock-out events of semi-finals and finals were played among the top two teams of Group A and B. The two third-placed players competed for the fifth place.