2nd Sri Lanka Youth Girls (Under 14) Chess Grand Prix 2021

Dahamdi, Easha, Desandhi and Oneli leads to Semi- Finals!

Both champions of group X and Y won quarter finals without getting tied. Sanudula Dahamdi of Musaeus College (above left) successfully won both games against Tenuli Dahamna Rathnayake(Ananda Balika Vidyalaya) of Quarter final 1 and made her step to Semi finals by being the only unbeaten player of the event.  Easha Pallie of Visakha Vidyalaya (above right) made her way to semifinals by scoring 1.5 out of 2 rounds with Oshini Gunawardana (Pushpadana High School) in Q/F 2. Being an Eight year old, Oshini’s achievement of stealing ½ a point from Esha is commendable.

Nemindi Linaya Ramanayake (Bandaranayake Central College, Veyangoda) and Desandhi Dhihansa Gamage of Sirimavo Bandaranayake Balika Vidyalaya (photo above) had a very tough battle among each other. They had draws in both classical games. Therefore, it led to two rapid games. Surprisingly, they had draws in both rapid games as well by making a remarkable battle. According to tie breaks, next is to play two blitz games. Battle became more competitive since their first blitz game ended up making a draw again. Desandhi made it to the semi finals by wining the 2nd blitz game after a hard fought game.

Tharuli Vihansa Ranganath School(Yoshida International) and Oneli Vithanawasam of Lyceum International School, Wattala (photo above) also had a competitive battle. Oneli won the first classical game while Tharuli made it equal by winning the second classical game. In two rapid games, Oneli was able to made it by winning the both games.

The prestigious 2nd SL Youth Girls Chess Grand Prix 2021 is scheduled from 2nd to 18th April 2021 with 18 leading Girls Under 14 Yrs Chess players. There were 2 Round Robin 9 rounds events played from 2nd to 10th April after dividing them to two groups of equal strength in Rating. The knocked out stage started with the Quarter finals today and will continue on 17th and 18th April with the Semi Finals and Finals.

 

The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is offering Rs. 55,000/= as the cash awards for the event. All games are live broadcasted and the link is given below. The CFSL is planning to arrange live streaming of the event in the Semi Finals and Finals.

 

The event is held according to the strict health guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health and The Medical Unit of Ministry of Sports. The following regulations should be adhered:

  1. A directory of participants is kept.
  2. Facilities for fever checking, Hand washing are available. Players should come wearing a Face masks
  3. Gloves and face shields are provided by CFSL and players should wear them all the time they stay in the venue.
  4. The social distancing should be adhered. Tables are arranged that way as 1 game per table.
  5. No spectators, parents are allowed in the venue. They can drop the players at the venue and may come back to collect after the game.
  6. Player gathering after the games is strictly prohibited.

 

The Semi Finals will be played as below:

S/F 1 – Sanudula Dahamdi Vs Oneli Vithanavasam

S/F 2 – Esha Pallie Vs Dehansa Gamage

 

The system is same as Quarter finals where two games will be played giving alternate colours. If equal, the 1st tie breaker is two Rapid Games with different colour. If still 1 point each two Blitz games giving alternate colours again. If still ties as 1-1 an Armageddon game giving 5 minutes to White and 4 Minutes to Black is played where white has to win. If it draws Black is considered as the winner.

WIM Nelunika Metmani