University of Sri Jayawardenapura performed extraordinary well to score 16 points out of 16 after the 8th round of the Super League Chess Championship 2021. They are so smart to beat all teams they met in which last two victims were Anandians CC (4 ½ – 1 ½ ) and Kandy YMCA (4-2.). Still the National Champion, Ranindu Dilsjhan (in photo) lead the individual points table showing that he is the player in the event while Chamika Perera (photo below) is making a captain’s series by scoring 7 out of 8 games being unbeaten throughout, just giving two draws only. Laksith Randil is also doing a silent job on board one for USJP scoring unbeaten 5 ½ points with 5 draws and 3 wins.
Though the Anandians in the 2nd spot with 11 points, the event has become a run for the Silver Medal by four teams. Three Teams, Blue and Gold, Super Knights and SL Navy is in the medal hunt with 10 match points each with another match tomorrow. Anandians drew with Sri Lanka Navy in the 8th round. The Blue and Gold drew with Kandy YMCA and Black & Gold CC in the round 7 and 8 while SL Navy lost to Super Knights in the morning round.
Sasith Nipun Piyumantha (photo above) is also having a good event with unbeaten 7 points after coming back to Chess from a long stop for his A/L examination. Though SL National Team members, Minul and Theekshana is also keeping a good score of 6 ½ points out of 8, both suffered lose to the Former National Chess Champion Isuru Alahakoon.
The Sri Lanka National Inter Club Chess Championship 2021 is conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka from 26th February to 2nd March 2021 for a Rs. 120,000/= Prize fund at Sanhinda hall, Gangodawila. The strongest National Team Chess Championship is played on the round robin system with the strongest 10 Chess Clubs in Sri Lanka in 9 rounds.
The games of the first 3 Matches are webcasted live using DGT Boards while a live streaming of the day is started at 5.00 p.m. all days in Chess Federation of Sri Lanka FB page with commentaries by the former National Chess Champion, Dulan Edirisinghe, International Master and Sri Lanka No 1 Harshana Thilakarathne and FIDE Master LMST De Silva who is also one of the strongest Chess Players in Sri Lanka.
The Event is approved by the Secretary of the Ministry of Health as well as the Director General of Sports Medicine Institute of the Ministry of Health to play with the health guidelines. The CFSL has taken all precautions as per the health regulations published for COVID 19 prevention.
The event has become an exact battle for the supremacy of the Chess Clubs with local player since allowing 2 foreign players for a team rule could not be implemented due to the current COVID 19 preventive regulations.
The Final round starts tomorrow at 9.00 a.m with the following pairing.
USJP CC Vs Blue Gold CC, Grand Prix CC Vs Anandians CC, SL Navy CC Vs Sokians CC, Maroons CC Vs Black & Gold CC and YMCA Kandy Vs Super Knight CC
Standings after 8th Round
1. University of Sri Jayawardenapura CC 16
2. Anandians CC 11
3. Blue and Gold CC 10
4. Grand Prix CC 10
5. SL Navy CC 10
6. Sokians CC 8
7. Kandy YMCA 3 5
8. Super Knights CC 4
9. Black and Gold CC 4
10. Maroons CC 2
Live Games link
SL Super League (Sri Lanka Inter Club Super League)