Susal, Dahamdi clinch Sri Lanka open and women’s national chess titles

International Master Susal de Silva and Women Candidate Master Dahamdi Sanudula won the Sri Lanka Open and Women’s National Chess championships respectively for the year 2023.

The Nalanda College prodigy de Silva scored 10.5 points out of 14 to clinch his third consecutive title. In the Open category, 14 players competed for top honours. De Silva was the top seed of starting rank list.

Young Dishal Nimsara Weerasekara and FM Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage were tied for the first runner-up position as they scored 10/14 points. But with a better tie-break, Weerasekara secured the first runner-up position and Liyanage had to satisfy with the second runner-up position.

Dahamdi Sanudula won the women’s national chess title

Musaeus College player Sanudula scored 10.5/14 points to win the Sri Lanka Women’s Nationals Chess Championship. Her only blemish was in the seventh round. She was the top seed of the starting rank list. There were 14 players competing for the title. H M H Janandani Abeysinghe and W.C.M.G.P.Y. Wijesuriya were tied for the first runner-up position as they scored 9/14 points. But with a better tie-break, Abeysinghe secured the first runner-up position. Wijesuriya settled for the second runner-up position.

Sri Lanka Open and Women’s National Chess Championships which commenced on March 25 concluded on Monday (3). It was held at the Sports Ministry Pavilion, Torrington Square, Colombo 07. The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, the organizer of this prestigious event offered a total of Rs 1,000,000.00 as cash awards. Rs 250,000.00 was awarded the to the Champion in the Open category while Rs 200,000.00 was allocated to the Women’s National Champion.