14-year-old Nalandian win 7th Sri Lanka Chess Grand Prix 2020

By Dhammika Ratnaweera

Nalanda  College 14-year-old chess player Susal Thewjan  De Silva finished with 9 points to win the 7^th Sri Lanka Chess Grand Prix which concluded last Sunday (19) at the Chess Federation headquarters Narahenpita. The champion Susal won the 50, 000 cash awards for his fine performances throughout the tournament.  The promising Nalandian took a clear lead when he beat the last year Champion, Chandana Wijekoon in the 10th and penultimate round to score 8 ½   points out of possible 10 games heading for the victory with one round in hand. Susal drew with E.D.S Chandula at the final (11^th) round recorded 9 points to take the championship.  He    has shown  his ability  from the  start in this Grand Prix and  kept the lead with 5  ½  points  at the halfway mark

However, Susal de Silva tied with G.C Anuradha after 7^th round of the event as he lost to Minul Jayaweera at this round. Anuradha and Susal were leading at the eight-round with eight points each. However, the promising Nalandian Susal came back strongly at the 10^th round with recording clear lead to come on top at the penultimate event and his effort was more significant with defeating last year champion Chandana Wijekoon at the 10^th round. This win paved to way to clinch the championship at the 11^th round which finished Susal drew with E.D.S Chandana. G.C Anuradha was finished second with 8.5 points while Kevin Ranidu de Silva was third place with 7 points.

At the 10^th round, GC Anuruddha drew with young Thisal Manjith Piyumantha of Dharmasoka College to drop down to 2nd place with 8 points. Kevin Ranindu Silva of St. Benedict’s College came to the 3rd position when he beat Jenith Weeratunge in this round. Minul Doluweera of Royal College lost to International Master, Romesh Weerawardena, and in the fourth place with 6 1/2 points. The final round made a very close battle with Susal drew with E.D.S Chandula .

The event which was conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka was the first Sporting Event in Sri Lanka after the COVID 19  Pandemic. The leading twelve Chess players in the country participated in this event. The Chess Federation has offered Rs. 50,000/= for the Champion with a total of Rs. 115,000/- prize fund with trophies and Medals. The prize distribution was held after the final round with the awards ceremonies of the CFSL online Internet base Chess events and the CORONA Virus Checkmate events with   Mrs. Sandamali Aviruppola, the Principal, Visakha Vidyalaya who also the President of the Schools Chess Federation as the Chief Guest.

Results after 10^th round

1. Minul Doluweera lost to Romesh Weerawardena
2. Jenith Weeratunge lost to Kevin Ranindu Silva
3. GC Anuruddha drew with Thisal Manjith Piyumantha
4. Elath Mathanga beat EDS Chandula
5. Susal Thewjan de Silva beat  beat Chandana Wijekoon
6. Dimuthu Abeywardena lost to AACB Amarasinghe

 Results after 11^th round

1. Minul Sanjula drew with AACB Amarasinghe
2. Chandana Wijekoon drew with Dimuthu Abeywardena
3. E.D.S Chandana drew with Susal Thewjan de Silva
4. Thisal Manjith Piyumantha drew with Elath Mathenga
5. Kevin Ranidu Silva drew with G.C Anuruddha
6. Romesh Weerawardena beat Jenith Weerathunga

                         Final ranking after 11^th round

1.Susal Thewjin de Silva  (9 points ) 2.G.C Anuradha( 8.5points) 3 .Kevin Ranidu Silva(7.5points) 4.Minul Sanjula Doluweera ( 7 points) 5.Romesh Weerawardena(6 points), 6.Elath Mathanga(5.5 points) 7. Thisal Manjith Piyumantha( 5 points) 8. Chandana Wijekoon (4.5points) 9.E.D.S Chandula(3.5 points) 10.A.A.C.B Amarasinghe (3.5 points) 11..A.A.B.D.P Abeywardena (3points) 12.Jenith Weerathunga (3 points)