Fourteen year old chess player Susal Thewjan de Silva of Nalanda College Colombo emerged champion at the seventh Sri Lanka Grand Prix 2020 which was played at the Chess Federation headquarters last Sunday.
De Silva earned nine points in 11 rounds as he beat Thisal Manjith Piyumantha, Kevin Ranindu Silva, Romesh Weerawardane, Jenith Weeratunge, Elath Mathanga de Silva, Dimuthu Abeywardane, AACB Amarasinghe and last year’s champion Chandana Wijekoon in eight rounds.
He lost his only game against Minul Sanjula Doluweera in the seventh round and drew with Chinthaka Anuruddha (in the fifth round) and EDS Chandula (in the 11th round).
Runner up Gallappatthi Chinthaka Anuruddha (Kandy YMCA) earned 8.5 points in 11 rounds as he beat Jenith Weeratunge, Dimuthu Abeywardane, Elath Mathanga de Silva, AAC Amarasinghe, Chandana Wijekoon and EDS Chandula in six rounds. He drew with Romesh Weerawardane, Minul Doluweera, Lasal de Silva, Thisal Piyumantha and Kevin Ranindu Silva in five rounds.
Kevin Ranindu Silva of St. Benedict’s College Kotahena took the third place in the event.
The championship was conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka and was the first sporting event in Sri Lanka after the Covid - 19 pandemic and held over six days.
Champion de Silva earned Rs. 50,000 with the Gold medal and the trophy while first runner up Chinthaka Anuruddha received Rs. 30,000 with the Silver medal. (YK)