Sanjeewa and Chenaya win Western II and I categories

National Online Rapid Chess Championship Cycle 2021

Chenaya Ekaratne of Musaeus College and Sanjeewa Dayan Munasinghe of National Building Research Organization were the champions in the Western I Girls’ category and Western II Open category events respectively of the National Online Novices Chess Championship.

The Musaeus College chess player achieved a remarkable feat when she won all seven games she played. She beat Nethra Rathnayake, Vihansa Liyanage, Resandi Kiringoda, Jenuki Herath, Tenuki Herath, Thinuli Pathirana and Ananya Perera to win the championship.

Haritha Thillainathan of Bishops College and Arundi Beminiwatte of Defense Services College scored six points each. However, with the better tie breaker, Haritha won the silver medal while Arundi had to satisfy with the bronze.

Haritha lost her first game to Theruni Jayasundara but came back strong to record six straight wins against Vinuji Mendis, Bhagya Kavindi, Lithumi Hiranya, Ranumi Gamage, Chanudi Jayasinghe and Tenuki Herath.

Munasinghe meanwhile had six straight wins against Jayod Bodaragamage, Mohamed Wishal, E.A.B.T. Edirisinghe, Akindu Keerthisinghe, Tharushika Silva and W.D.R.T. Wijeratne and drew with Piyumi Amarathunga in the last game.

Piyumi Amarathunga of Super Fighters Chess Club secured the silver medal scoring six points. Piyumi started with a draw against Thisara Perera but later won five games beating K.T.S. Karannagoda, Senal Francis, Thinod Perera, Ishitha Upeksha and Akindu Keerthisinghe. Her last game against Munasinghe ended in a draw.

The Western II Open and Western 1 Girls’ events of the Sri Lanka National Online Novices Chess Championship – 2021 attracted 152 participants, whose ratings were below 1200 points. Both events were played according to the Swiss System in seven rounds under the Rapid Chess time control of 15 minutes and 10 second increment for each move played.

The top 23 players of the Western II Open and the top 22 players of the Western I girls categories qualify for Majors Division Chess Championships to be held from late August 2021. The Inaugural Sri Lanka National Online Rapid Chess Championship Cycle 2021 conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka consists of four stages. The Cycle is started with the Novices events in seven regions followed by the Major Division events in the same regions.