Clear leaders have emerged in the various age groups at the halfway mark of the Western Asia Youth Chess Championship, 7-16 July 2024 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The tournament is organized by the Sri Lanka Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE.
FM Erzhan Zhakshylykov of Kyrgyzstan grabbed solo lead in the boys under-18 with a perfect 5 points, one and a half points ahead of second running Jani Kushal of India and FM Reja Neer Manon of Bangladesh.
In the under-16 boys, FM Imangali Akhilbay of Kazakhstan also had a perfect score of 5 points. Five players follow with 3.5 points each.
THD Tnisarindu Induwara of Sri Lanka grabbed solo lead in the Under-14 boys with 4.5 points. Compatriot B. Janukshan and CM Sajid Sakline Mostafa of Bangladesh follow close behind with 4 points each.
In the boys under-12, Garg Ayaan of India grabbed solo lead with 4.5 points followed by Koorosh Biglarifard of Iran and Vinuka Dihain Wijerathna of Sri Lanka with 4 points each.
In the under-10 boys section,
In the under-8 boys division, Palaniappan K Kavish of India is alone in the lead with 4.5 points followed by four players with 4 points each.
In the girls division, WFM Guldona Karimova of Uzbekistan and Ahmed Wadifa of Bangladesh are tied for the lead in the girls under-18 with 4 points each. Six players follow with 3.5 points each.
Three girls are tied for the lead with 4 points each in the under-16, namely Raman Ananya of India, Zilola Aktamova of Uzbekistan and Zhaniya Nauanova of Kazakhstan.
Gupta Aadya of India is alone in the lead with 4 points in the under14 girls. Three others follow with 3.5 points each, namely B Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera and RM Dulinma Hemalni Rathnayake, both of Sri Lanka, and Edisa Berdibaeva of Kyrgyzstan.
Four players are tied for the lead with 4 points each in the girls under-12 division, namely Shah Hanya of India, R B Pumudi Hansadi and Sethumlee Devhara Palliyage, both of Sri Lanka, and Khushu Warsia of Bangladesh.
Zhansaya Sholpanhek of Kazakhstan grabbed solo lead with a perfect 5 point slate in the girls under-10 division followed by J Vaneesha Gomes Oshini with 4.5 points and H P Sanuli Swethma of Sri Lanka with 4 points.
