Sanidula Dahamdi wins Youth Girls Chess Grand Prix title

Sanidula Dahamdi of Musaeus College emerge the champion of the Inaugural Sri Lanka Youth Girls Chess Grand Prix 2020 at the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka on Sunday. In the grand finals, Dahamdi scored 1 ½ points to ½ against Chanethma Marasinghe of Girls High School Kandy.

In the 1st game Dahamdi won with white pieces and was fortunate to get an opening of center counter where she got a positive play in queens side. She just needed a draw in the second round with black pieces where she managed to get it in only 25 moves. She was awarded with the Inaugural Youth Girls Grand Prix Champion Trophy, medal and Rs. 20,000.00 in cash. Chanethma had to satisfy with the silver medal and a cash award of Rs. 10,000.00.

Esha Pallie of Visakha Vidyalaya beat Oneli Omaya Wilvalaarachchi of Gothami Balika Vidyalaya in the consolation finals to win the bronze medal and a cash award of Rs. 6,000.00. Oneli was fourth with a cash award of Rs. 4,000.00.

In the semifinals, Sanidula beat Esha Pallie in the tie breaker Rapid Chess game 2-0 on Saturday after scoring 1-1 in the semifinals. Chanethma beat Oneli Omaya Wilvalaarachchi 1½ – ½ to qualify for the finals.

The Inaugural Sri Lanka Youth Girls Chess Grand Prix 2020 conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka started on August 29 with total of 24 top youth Girls Chess players competing in under 14 category.

Luxman Wijesuriya, the newly elected president of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka was the chief guest. Wijesuriya, CFSL vice President, Thushan Wickramarachchi and Secretary General, Malith Akalanka gave away the awards..