News – Page 197 – Asian Chess

Sri Lanka National Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2020

The Sri Lanka National Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2020 will be held on 21st & 22nd August 2020 at the SATHARA Auditorium, Maharagama with the medical guidelines given by the Ministry of Sports.
Blitz, 3 + 2 seconds. (First round starts at 4.00 pm on Friday)
Rapid 15 + 10 seconds (First round starts at 8.30 am on Saturday)

Events are open for all. If fewer than 200 players in a event, only 7 rounds are played. Otherwise it will be 9 rounds.

There will be four events:
1. Sri Lanka National Blitz Chess Championships 2020
2. Sri Lanka Women’s National Blitz Chess Championships 2020
3. Sri Lanka National Rapid Chess Championships 2020
4. Sri Lanka Women’s National Rapid Chess Championships 2020

Entry fee Rs. 600/ = for rated players and Rs. 1200/= for unrated in both.
It’s 400/- and 800/= for one category.

Awards – Championships Trophy for all Events, Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals and following Cash awards will be awarded. We will issue 10 certificates for first 20 players and additional 1 each for every 10 players more.

Rapid
Open Women
Champion Rs. 20,000/= Rs. 15,000/=
1st Runner Up Rs. 12,000/= Rs. 10,000/=
2nd Runner Up Rs. 8,000/= Rs. 5,000/=

Blitz
Open Women
Champion Rs. 15,000/= Rs. 10,000/=
1st Runner Up Rs. 10,000/= Rs. 5,000/=
2nd Runner Up Rs. 5,000/= Rs. 3,000/=
Please send your entries before 9.00 pm on Thursday, the 20th of August 2020 to chessfederationsl@gmail.com. Late entries will not be considered. The payments should be completed before the 1st round is over.

Health Guide lines
1. Details and a history of health records are taken from all participants before start.
2. All players should come in masks.
3. Hand cleaning & Temperature checking available here.
4. Three feet tables are used and players may keep one meter distance. Only 4 players are
placed in 3 x 6 tables
5. No spectators, parents are allowed in the venue

Last year winners are in the picture:
1. Gayan Pieris, SL National Rapid Chess Champion (left) and Damith Karunarathne SL National Blitz Chess Champion 2019.

2. Tenara De Silva (SL Women’s National Rapid Chess Champion 2019)

3. Sanidual Dahamdi (SL Women’s National Blitz Chess Champion 2019)

Obituary: Emad Ghalayini

With deep sorrow we learned of the demise of a long-time friend of chess, Mr. Emad Ghalayini.

Emad was one of the original founders of chess in the UAE. As Technical Secretary of the UAE Chess Federation, he helped start chess clubs around the UAE – in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah to start the chess movement here.

He made his mark in Asian and World chess. Emad thrice organized the Asian Cities Chess Team Championship in the 1990s in Dubai and he was Chief Organizer of the World Juniors Chess Championship 1985 in Sharjah and Chief Arbiter of the Chess Olympiad 1986 in Dubai.

Asian Chess Federation recognized his achievements in the first Asian Chess Excellence Awards in 2014. In photo below, Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan and former FIDE President Kirsan Iljumzhinov presented Emad Ghalayini the Meritorious Service Award together with Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher (right).

Sheikh Sultan extended sincere condolences to the family of Emad Ghalayini on behalf of the Asian Chess Community.

Dimuth Wins Inaugural Sri Lanka Youth Chess Grand Prix 2020–Under 14

Dimuth Indeepa Samarweera of DS Senanayake College made the Chess history by winning the Inaugural Sri Lanka Youth Chess Grandprix yesterday at the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka Headquarters, Nugegoda. Dimuth who was performing extremely well from the 1^st round has no hesitation in beating his schoolmate, Senuka Ahangama 1 ½ – ½ at the super finals held yesterday. He drew his first game and won the 2^nd game convincingly. He was awarded the Championship Trophy, Gold Medal and a cash award of Rs. 25,000/=. Dimuth beat one of his schoolmates, Pesandu Liyanage in the Semi Finals yesterday.

Senuka Ahangama also from DS Senanayake College had to satisfy with the 2^nd place getting the Silver Medal with Rs. 15,000/= cash award. Senuka became the group Championship in Group X earlier and came to the final after a strong battle with Shenal Gunathilake of Royal College in the Semifinals yesterday.

Peasndu Liyanage over came with Vinuda Shenal Gunathilake in the consolation finals and placed third with the Bronze Medal and Rs. 10,000/= in cash. The match they played was 1 each and Pesandu beat Vinuda on the first tie breaker, the Rapid Games. Peasandu beat Vinuda in both Rapid Games. The 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd, all three places went to DS Senanayake College Colombo.

A total of 20 top under 14 years Chess players participated in this strongest youth Chess Championship conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka for the first time in the Chess history.

The event is scheduled in a new format as 20 players are divided in to two groups with equal strength. So two, ten player round robin (9 rounds) events were played on 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th of August 2020. Then the Champion and the runner up in the groups played a knocked out as X winner Vs Y Runner Up, Y winner with X runner up as semifinals and then the finals between thewinners.
The knocked out stage, each match had two games with different colours and tie breaks was two games with rapid play in two colours followed by two blitz games and if still tied, a sudden death game. The whole tournament games were live webcasted.

Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya, the expected President of CFSL who is the General Secretary of South Asian Chess Council and a Vice President of Asian Chess Federation was the Chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony with the Chief Arbiter Dayal Siriwardena and Mr. Erosh Jayasinghe, the Treasurer of CFSL.

The Inugural Sri Lanka Youth Girls Chess Grand Prix will be started on 29^th of August 2020.

Sri Lanka Team fails to enter the Group II of FIDE Online Olympiad

The Sri Lanka National Chess team failed to enter to the Group 2 level yesterday, when they lost to Botswana 1 -5 in the last round of Group two matches of the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad 2020. The Sri Lanka team was playing well by scoring wins against even number 1, International Cripple Association team and strong Tajikistan Team in earlier rounds. But they could not go over strong Portugal and Scotland teams in the round 2 and round 8. They drew with the UAE National Chess Team as well.

The FIDE World Chess Olympiad is conducted by the World Chess Federation as the result of postponing the 45^th FIDE Chess Olympiad to August 2021 due to the COVID 19 Pandemic. There are a total of 163 countries participating where FIDE has introduce a new format for the team to have 2 males, two females, one under 20 boy and one under 20 girl in the team. The event was held in the Rapid Chess format with 15 minutes per side with 10 second increment from move one.

Sri Lanka beat Chinese Taipei 4 ½ – 1 ½ in the 1^st round, lost to Scotland 2 ½ – 3 ½ in 2^nd round. Got a walk over from Nigeria 6 -0 in 3^rd round, beat Tajikistan 4-2 in the 4^th round, drew with UAE in the 5^th round 3-3, beat Angola 4-2 in the 6^th round, beat IPCA 4-2 in the 7^th round, lost to Portugal 2 ½ – 1 ½ in the 8^th round and lost to Botswana 1- 5 in the last and final round to score 11 match points which placed us in 5^th in our group.

Portugal, IPCA and Scotland placed 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd in the pool B, our group and advanced to level II which will be started on Friday, the 14^th of August 2020.

Women International Master Sachini Ransinghe was the individual best to score 5 points out of 6 games while Devnethmi Dahampriya also score 5 points out of 8 Games.

The Sri Lanka National Chess Team was consisted of FIDE Master Harshana Thilakarathne (Maliyadeva College), (Captain), FIDE Master Isuru Alahakoon(Sri Lanka Navy), Devnethmi Dahampriya(Visakha Vidyalaya), Ashvini Pavalchandran (Wycherly International School), FIDE Master L M S T De Silva(Nalanda College), WCM Sayuni Gihansa Jayaweera (Dharmasoka College), CM Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage(Ananda College), & FIDE Master Chinthaka Anuruddha (YMCA Kandy CC), Nethmi Fernando(Girls High School), Women International Master Sachini Ranasinghe (Nf3 Chess Club), FIDE Master Minul Doluweera (Royal College), and WCM Tharushi Niklesha (Visakha Vidyalaya). Mr. Ransith Fernando was the Team Manager while Mr. Rajeendra Kalugampitiya was the Coach.

The Polymath College International has given a great support by providing venue and the Internet facility throughout the event. We thank Mr. Upali Gunasekara the Principal and the management for their fullest corporation for making this participation a reality.

The Inaugural Sri Lanka Youth Grand Prix 2020

The the Inaugural Sri Lanka Youth Grand Prix 2020 was started at the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka today. The event which is conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka with a RS. 55,000/= cash fund will be held on 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th at the CFSL HQ, Nugegoda.

The following health guidelines apply.

1. All players should come in masks.

2. Hand cleaning & Temperature checking available here.

3. Three feet tables are used and players may keep one meter distance.

4. No spectators, parents are allowed in the venue.

5. Details and a history of health records are taken from all participants before start.

The event is scheduled in a new format with 20 leading under 14 Chess players in Sri Lanka. The 20 players are divided in to two groups with equal strength. So two ten player round robin (9 rounds) events atre played on 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th of August 2020. Then the Champion and the runner up in the groups will play a knocked out as X winner Vs Y Runner Up, Y winner with X runner up as semi finals and then the finals between the winners.

Two games with different colours and tie breaks will be two games with rapid play in two colours followed by two blitz games and still tied, a sudden death game will be played in knock out stage. The Prize Distribution wil be on 18th after final game.

The all games are live webcasted in the following links:

Group X Link
https://view.livechesscloud.com/…
https://chess-results.com/tnr531961.aspx?lan=1

Group Y Link
https://view.livechesscloud.com/…
https://chess-results.com/tnr531963.aspx?lan=1

Luxman Wijesuriya
Hony. Tournament Secretary
General Secretary- South Asian Chess Council
General Secretary- Commonwealth Chess Association
Vice President – Asian Chess Federation

Sri Lanka National Chess Team to the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad 2020

The National Chess team of Sri Lanka is participating in the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad 2020. Sri Lanka starts in Group 3 from 7th August 2020.

The team photograph is here.

Standing Left to Right
Nethmi Fernando, Devnethmi Dahampriya, Ashvini Pavalchandran, WCM Tharushi Niklesha, FM L M S T De Silva, CM Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage, FM Minul Doluweera & FM Chinthaka Anuruddha Galappaththi

Seated Left to Right
WIM Sachini Ranasinghe, FM Rajendra Kalugampitiya(Coach), WCM Sayuni Gihansa Jayaweera, Mr. Upali Gunasekara (Past President – CFSL), Mr Luxman Wijesuriya(FIDE Delegate – CFSL, General Secretary – Commonwealth Association, VP- Asian Chess Federation), FM Harshana Thilakarathne(Captain), Mr. Ransith Fernando(Team Manager), FM Isuru Alahakoon

WIM Sachini Ranasinghe Wins Inaugural Sri Lanka Women Chess Grand Prix 2020

WIM Sachini Ranasinghe (Nf3 Chess Club) became the Champion of the Inugural Sri Lanka Women’s Chess Grand Prix 2020. Though she lost her last round game to young Tharushi Sandeepani of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, she scored a total of 9 ½ points out of possible 11 Games. Sachini was a four times women’s National Chess Champion in 2009, 2011, 2012 & 2013 and played in four FIDE Chess Olympiads in 2010 in Russia, 2012 in Turkey, 2016 in Azerbaijan & 2018 in Georgia. Sachini was awarded the Trophy, Gold Medal and Rs. 30,000/= for her performance.

WFM Dinushki Premanath of University of Moratuwa made a good come back scoring six straight wins to finish with 8 points after little poor performance in first four rounds. Dinushki was the National Women’s Chess Champion in 2010 and 2018 and has played in couple of Chess Olympiads in 2012 and 2018. Dinushki got the Silver medal with a shared prize of Rs. 12,000/=.

WCM Tharushi Niklesha (Visakha Vidyalaya) and WIM Nelunika Methmani (University of Sri Jayawardenapura) also finished with 8 points, tying 8 points each with Dinushki, but have to satisfy with the Bronze medal and the fourth place respectively according to the tie breaker. Tharushi lost her final round game to Janandani Abeysinghe of NSBM Green University and Nelunika Methmani drew with Ashvini Pavalchandran of Wycherly International School. Tharushi got the Bronze medal and both of them were awarded with a shred prize of Rs. 12,000/= each. Asvini Pavalchandran was placed fifth with 7 ½points and she was awarded with Rs. 4,000/= in cash.

The Event which was conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is the first Women sporting event of the country after the COVID 19 Break. The event was in progress on 25th, 26th, 27th, 31st July and 1st and 2nd August 2020 at the Chess Federation Headquarters, Delkanda, Nugegoda. The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka offered Rs 70,000/= in cash awards with Trophies and Medals. Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya, General Secretary of South Asian Chess Council& Commonwealth Chess Association and a Vice President of Asian Chess Federation was the chief guest at the awards ceremony had just after the event.

Sachini, Niklesha and Ashvini are in the National Chess Team which participate in the FIDE world online Chess Olympiad to be started on 7^th August 2020.

The results of 11th Round

1. Prasansa Premanath(Girls High School, Kandy) beat Sayumi Gamage (Musaeus College)

2. WIM, Nelunika Methmani (University of Sri Jayawardenapura)drew with Ashvini Pawalachandran(Wycherly International Schools)

3. Janandani Abeysinghe (NSBM Green University) beat Tharushi Niklesha(Visakha Vidyalaya)

4. Sayumi Vimansa Piyumanthi (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda) lost to WFM Dinushki Premanath (University of Moratuwa)

5. Sachini Ranasinghe(Nf3 CC) lost to Tharushi Sandeepani (Devi Balika Vidyalaya)

6. Oneli Weerawardena(Lycium International School, Ratnapura) got the Bye

Final Standings

1. WIM, Sachini Ranasinghe 9 ½
2. WFM, Dinushki Premanath 8
3. WCM Tharushi Niklesha 8
4. WIM, Nelunika Methmani 8
5. Ashvini Pavalachandran 7
6. Sandeepani Tharushi 6 ½
7. Prasansa Premanath 5 ½
8. Janadani Abeysinghe 5 ½
9. Oneli Weerawardena 3 ½
10. Sayumi Gamage 3
11. Sayumi Vimansa Piyumanthi 1 ½

The game which affected the event the most:

Diniuski Premanath Vs Sachini Ranasinghe Rd. 01

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 9.a4 a6 10.Na3 Be7 11.Be2 O-O 12.O-O f5 13.Nc4 f4 14.a5 Nd7 15.Bd2 Rf6 16.Bf3 Qf8 17.b4 Rb8 18.Re1 Qf7 19.Qe2 g5 20.h3 h5 21.Bc3 Rh6 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.Nxe5 Nxe5 24.Qxe5 Bd6 25.Qxg5 Rg6 26.Qxh5 Bf5 27.c4 Kg7 28.Bg4 Bxg4 29.hxg4 Rh8 30. Qf5 Qxf5 31.gxf5 Rgh6 32.Kf1 Rh1+ 0-1

All games were live webcasted at the following link:
https://view.livechesscloud.com#afa448d1-8742-415c-9c45-8af2cebf8258

Women International Master Sachini Ranasinghe leads at the halfway Mark

WIM Sachini Ranasinghe (Nf3 Chess Club) is in the lead after 6 games of the Inaugural Sri Lanka Women’s Chess Grand Prix 2020 scoring 5 ½ points out of possible. Sachini who was four times Sri Lanka National Women’s Champion beat Dinushki Premanath, THD Niklesha, Oneli Weerawardena, Ashvini Pavalchandran and Prasansa Premanath in a row and gave a draw in the last, 6^th round to Women International Master, Nelunika Methmani, who fought strongly to get the draw.

WIM, Nelunika Methmani(University of Sri Jayawardenapura) is following Sachini very closely with 5 points, just a half a point behind. Nelunika also beat four players and gave draws to Sachini and Janandani Abeysinghe (Mahamaya College, Kandy.) Tharushi Niklesha of Visakha Vidyalaya beat Sayumi Piyumanthi (Dharmasoka College) to place 3^rd with a total of 4 ½ points.

The Event which was conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is the first Women sporting event of the country after the COVID 19 Break. The event is in progress on 25th, 26th, 27th, 31st July and 1st and 2nd August 2020 at the Chess Federation Headquarters, Delkanda, Nugegoda. The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka has offered Rs 70,000/= as cash awards with Trophies and Medals. The remaining rounds will start on Friday, the 31^st July 2020 afternoon at 3.00 p.m. and continued on Saturday and Sunday with the prize Distribution, just after the event.

The results of 6^th round

1. Sayumi Gamage (Musaeus College) Lost to Janandani Abeysinghe (Girls High School, Kandy)

2. WIM, Sachini Ransinghe(Nf3 Chess Club) drew with WIM, Nelunika Methmani (University of Sri Jayawardenapura)

3. Sandeepani M Tharushi (Devi Balika Vidyalaya) Drew with Prasansa Premanath(Girls High School, Kandy)

4. WFM, Dinushki Premanath(University of Moratuwa) beat Ashvini Pawalachandran(Wycherly International Schools)

5. WCM, Tharushi Niklesha(Visakha Vidyalaya) beat Oneli Weerawardena(Lycium International School, Ratnapura)

6. Sayumi Vimansa Piyumanthi Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda) got the Bye

Standings after Round 6

1. WIM, Sachini Ranasinghe 5 ½

2. WIM, Nelunika Methmani 5

3. WCM Tharushi Niklesha 4 ½

4. Ashvini Pavalachandran 4

5. Janadani Abeysinghe 3 ½

6. WFM, Dinushki Premanath 3

7. Sandeepani Tharushi 3

8. Prasansa Premanath 3

9. Sayumi Gamage 2

10. Oneli Weerawardena 1 ½

11. Sayumi Vimansa Piyumanthi 1

All games are live webcasted at the following link:

https://view.livechesscloud.com#afa448d1-8742-415c-9c45-8af2cebf8258

International Organizers Seminar

The Asian Chess Federation, in cooperation with the Oman Chess Committee, organized the International Organizers Seminar which was held Online via Zoom from 15 to 19 July 2020. Sixty five students from 16 federations participated in the seminar, there were from BRN, OMA, UAE, YEM, QAT, IRQ, KSA, LEB, KUW, ALG, EGY, MAR, TUN, LBA, SOM, and FRA.

The seminar included the following subjects: Regulations of Events Commission (Mission, Members, Events Regulations, Bid Procedure) Ratings and Titles, Events Management.

At the end of the seminar, the students took the exam (as in above photos) and 54 of them passed and will be given an IO Norm according to the FIDE regulations. The lectures were given by FIDE Lecturer IO/IA Mahdi Abdulrahim (UAE), Chairman of the FIDE Rules Commission and Chairman of ACF Arbiters Commission.

The seminar was moderated by Hisham Al-Taher, Secretary General of the Asian Chess Federation.

The opening session was attended by Victor Bologan, FIDE CEO, Ozgur Solakoglu, Chairman of the FIDE Events Commission, Hisham Al-Taher, Secretary General of the Asian Chess Federation, Ahmed Al Bulushi, Chairman of the Oman Chess Committee, and Mehrdad Pahlawanzadeh, Treasure of the Asian Federation. The students praised the level of the course and the huge amount of information that they benefited from. Thanks and gratitude were extended to the Asian Chess Federation and the Oman Chess Committee for the successful organization. Thanks to the FIDE Events Commission in particular for supporting the seminar.

Inaugural Sri Lanka Women’s Chess Grand Prix 2020

The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is conducting the first women sporting event in the country, the Inaugural Sri Lanka Women’s Chess Grand Prix 2020 25th, 26th, 27th, 31st July & 1st & 2nd August 2020 at CFSL Headquarters with a total Prize fund of Rs. 70,000/=. With live games webcasted in each and every game.

The event will be played over 11 rounds on Round Robin Basis on the Fischer single time control, 130 minutes with 30 second increment.

The following player will participate.

1. Former National Chess Champions – Sachini Ranasinghe(WIM) & Dinushki Premanath

2. WIM Nelunika Methmani

3. Last year National Team players, Ashvini Pavalchandran, & Tharushi Niklesha

4. Former National Team player – Janandani Abeysinghe

5. Under 12 Girls National Chess Champion – Nemindi Linaya Ramanayake,
6. Young stars – Oneli Weerawardena, Prasansa Premanath, Sandeepani Tharushi & Sayumi Gamage

The event will be held with following Health guidelines:
1. Everyone should use masks
2. Facility cleaning hands and checking fever is available here.
3. Keep footwear out side of the playing hall.
4. A medical history and personal information form should be filled.
5. No spectators/ Parents will be accommodated in the playing hall.
6. Don’t bring your vehicle near Sujatha Vidyalaya or NSB Car park at the High level road. (Only 50 meters from both places.)
Wish you all the best for the event!

Catch up the excitement! Starting from Saturday, the 25th of July 2020! L Head Quarters, Nugegoda! with the given Health guidelines!

Live games at:

https://view.livechesscloud.com#afa448d1-8742-415c-9c45-8af2cebf8258