Sri Lanka triumphed at the 7th Western Asian Youth Chess Championship 2024
securing nine medals in the standard event. These included three gold medals, four silver medals, and two bronze medals, demonstrating Sri Lanka’s prowess in the chess arena.
Gold Medalists:
– J Vaneesha Oshini Gomes won the championship in the under 10 girls category.
– A P Chenitha Sihas Dinsara Karunasena won the championship in the under 10 open category.
– Sethumlee Devhara Palliyage won the championship in the under 12 girls category.
Silver Medalists:
– O R Hasini Anuththara Ranasinghe secured the first runner-up position in the under 08 girls category.
– U G Janiru Nethmitha secured the first runner-up position in the under 08 open category.
– Vinuka Dihain Wijerathna secured the first runner-up position in the under 12 open category.
– D D L N Dandeniya secured the first runner-up position in the under 14 open category.
Bronze Medalists:
– M A Sanuka Sageeth Kulathilaka won the second runner-up position in the under 08 open category.
– J M Theruni V Jayasundara won the second runner-up position in the under 14 girls category.
The 7th Western Asian Youth Chess Championship 2024 was held from July 9 to 15, 2024, at Citrus Waskaduwa, Kalutara, Sri Lanka. The championship was organized by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE. The event featured players from Western Asian Chess Federations (Zones 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.7 & 3.8) affiliated with the Asian Chess Federation.
The Standard Championship was contested in categories Under 08, 10, 12, 14, 16 & 18, with separate sections for Open and Girls. Each category was played in a 9-round Swiss format with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The standard event is the primary event of the 7th Western Asian Youth Chess Championship 2024. A total of 328 players from 10 federations competed in this event.
Under 08 Open:
In the under 08 open category, 31 players competed. ACM Palaniappan K Kavish of India won the championship scoring 7.5/9 points. Two players tied for the first runner-up position with 7/9 points. With better tie-break, U G Janiru Nethmitha of Sri Lanka won the first runner-up position, and M A Sanuka Sageeth Kulathilaka of Sri Lanka had to settle for the second runner-up position.
Under 08 Girls:
In the under 08 girls category, 33 players competed. R Aaranya of India won the championship scoring 7.5/9 points. O R Hasini Anuththara Ranasinghe of Sri Lanka secured the first runner-up position with 7/9 points. Six players tied for the second runner-up position with 6/9 points. With a higher tie-break, Haider Warisa of Bangladesh secured the second runner-up position.
Under 10 Open:
In the under 10 open category, 37 players competed. A P Chenitha Sihas Dinsara Karunasena of Sri Lanka won the championship scoring 7.5/9 points. He was unbeaten throughout the event. Ashok Samaksh of India secured the first runner-up position with 7/9 points. Sogerwal Vairaj of India won the second runner-up position with 6.5/9 points.
Under 10 Girls:
In the under 10 girls category, 32 players competed. J Vaneesha Oshini Gomes of Sri Lanka won the championship scoring 8/9 points. She was unbeaten throughout the event. Zhansaya Sholpanbek of Kazakhstan won the first runner-up position with 7.5/9 points. Shree R Pooja of India won the second runner-up position with 7/9 points.
Under 12 Open:
In the under 12 open category, 29 players competed. Garg Ayaan of India won the championship scoring 8/9 points. He was unbeaten throughout the event. Vinuka Dihain Wijerathna of Sri Lanka won the first runner-up position with 7.5/9 points. Koorosh Biglarifard of Iran won the second runner-up position with 6.5/9 points.
Under 12 Girls:
In the under 12 girls category, 31 players competed. Sethumlee Devhara Palliyage of Sri Lanka won the championship scoring 7/9 points. She was unbeaten throughout the event. Darshini T Sri of India won the first runner-up position with 6.5/9 points. Five players tied for the second runner-up position with 6/9 points. With a better tie-break, Shah Hanya of India won the second runner-up position.
Under 14 Open:
In the under 14 open category, 24 players competed. CM Sajid Sakline Mostafa of Bangladesh won the championship scoring 7/9 points. He was unbeaten throughout the event. D D L N Dandeniya of Sri Lanka won the first runner-up position with 6.5/9 points. Four players tied for the second runner-up position with 6/9 points. With a better tie-break, Kowshik Chinmay of India won the second runner-up position.
Under 14 Girls:
In the under 14 girls category, 18 players competed. AFM Gupta Aadya won the championship scoring 6.5/9 points. She was unbeaten throughout the event. Two players tied for the first runner-up position with 6/9 points. With a superior tie-break, Mariya Kholyavko of Kazakhstan secured the first runner-up position, and J M Theruni V Jayasundara of Sri Lanka won the second runner-up position.
Under 16 Open:
In the under 16 open category, 28 players competed. FM Imangali Akhilbay of Kazakhstan won the championship scoring 7.5/9 points. He was unbeaten throughout the event. Four players tied for the first runner-up position with 6/9 points. With superior tie-breaks, FM M D Imran of India won the first runner-up position, and FM Sultanbeibarys Dumanuly of Kazakhstan won the second runner-up position.
Under 16 Girls:
In the under 16 girls category, 20 players competed. Zhaniya Nauanova of Kazakhstan won the championship scoring 7/9 points. She was unbeaten throughout the event. Raman Ananya of India secured the first runner-up position with 6.5/9 points. Two players tied for the second runner-up position with 6/9 points. With a better tie-break, Zilola Aktamova of Uzbekistan won the second runner-up position.
Under 18 Open:
In the under 18 open category, 19 players competed. FM Erzhan Zhakshylykov of Kyrgyzstan won the championship scoring 7.5/9 points. He was unbeaten throughout the event. FM Reja Neer Manon of Bangladesh secured the first runner-up position with 7/9 points. Two players tied for the second runner-up position with 6/9 points. With a better tie-break, Yerlan Tleukhanov of Kazakhstan won the second runner-up position.
Under 18 Girls:
In the under 18 girls category, 26 players competed. WFM Guldona Karimova of Uzbekistan won the championship scoring 7/9 points. She was unbeaten throughout the event. Two players tied for the first runner-up position with 6.5/9 points. With a better tie-break, WFM Galina Mikheeva of FIDE secured the first runner-up position, and Aidana Madi of Kazakhstan had to settle for the second runner-up position.
Congratulations to all the winners who have made Sri Lankan chess proud. The awards ceremony was held in the presence of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, at Temple Trees, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
