Susal de Silva and Oshini Gunawardhana won runner-up positions in the Western Asian Juniors and Girls Rapid Chess Championship held on November 29 at the Board of Investors Auditorium, World Trade Centre.
Susal de Silva, a student from Nalanda College, clinched the second runner-up spot after a four-way tie for the championship with 5.5/7 points. The title went to International Master GB Harshavardhan of India, with Vepaly Halynyazow of Turkmenistan securing the runner-up position.
In the Western Asian Junior Girls Rapid Championship, Oshini Gunawardhana of Wycherley International School scored an impressive 6/7 points. Despite her stellar performance, she secured the first runner-up position due to tie-break rules. The championship title in this category was claimed by WIM Zeinep Sultanbek of Kazakhstan, with WFM Lala Shohradova of Turkmenistan securing the second runner-up position.
The tournament featured a total of 40 players from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. Using a rapid format with a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment from move 01, the event brought together a diverse and competitive field.
Organized by the Sri Lanka Chess Federation under the purview of the Asian Chess Federation and the World Chess Federation, the championship showcased the skill and sportsmanship of young chess enthusiasts in the region.
SAJEEWA JAYAKODY