The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is organizing the 1st CFSL Online Women Rapid Team Chess Championship 2021 on 14th, 16th, 17th and 24th January 2020 at the Chess.com platform. Altogether 55 teams have registered in the event from all over the country. One WGM from Kazakhstan, three WIMS from India and two WIMs from Sri Lanka are in the battle. The Women National Chess Champion, Nethmi Fernando (photo above) and former Women National Chess Champions (l to r below) Sachini Ranasinghe, Saumi Zainab, Sayuni Gihansa Jayaweera & (l to r second row below) Dinushki Premanath, Dasuni Hansika Mendisare also in the battle.
The top ranked team is Ceylon Chathuranga Club consisting of Ganga Dehigama, Chandra Rathnayake, Thilini Koswatte, Chamindra De Silva and Indian WIM, Choleti Sahajasri.
The event will be held in 4 stages. The teams are ranked according to the FIDE rankings and the last 27 teams will play in the group C event which will be held on the 14th of January 2020. Then the top three teams will advance to Division B to play with 23 teams included in Group B according to their rating. The Division B will be held on 16th of January 2021. The top three teams of Division B will join the top 5 teams in ranking who are included in the Group A. The Division A event will be held on 17th of January 2021 with these 8 teams as a round Robin event of 7 rounds. The top four teams of Group A event will meet in the semi finals and Finals to be played on 24th January 2021.
The Chess Federation is awarding the Medals and Certificates to all Division winners and the top four teams will receive a cash award of Rs. 35,000/= with the trophies and Medals.