FM Isuru Alahakoon Wins Open Championship, ACM A G Hansadie Aradhya Akuratiya Triumphs in Women’s Championship at the 15th Colombo Chess Festival.
The 15th Colombo Chess Festival, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest FIDE-rated chess championships, concluded successfully, showcasing exceptional talent and fierce competition. Held from 14th to 18th September 2024 at the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Malabe, the tournament brought together 476 participants across various categories, competing for a prize fund of Rs 1,300,000.00 along with medals, certificates, and trophies.
Organized by the Passed Pawn Chess Club in collaboration with the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL), the Asian Chess Federation, and FIDE, the event remains a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s chess calendar. This year’s festival consisted of both standard and blitz championships, attracting top players from across the country.
Standard Championship
In the Standard Championship, FM Isuru Alahakoon emerged victorious in the Open category, scoring an impressive 9/10 points and remaining unbeaten throughout the event. The competition followed a 10-round Swiss format, with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move starting from the first move.
A tight contest saw three players tie for the first runner-up position, each scoring 8.5/10 points. After the tie-break, S Sivathanujan and A A H M B Senarathne secured the first and second runners-up positions respectively, while E D S Chandula finished in fourth place.
ACM A G Hansadie Aradhya Akuratiya Wins Women’s Championship. In the Women’s category, ACM A G Hansadie Aradhya Akuratiya clinched the championship with 7.5/10 points, edging out her rivals based on superior tie-breaks. Despite three players tying for the top spot, WFM H Pevinya Peiris and AFM R M Dulinma Hemalni Rathnayake were placed as first and second runners-up, respectively.
Category Awards
Beyond individual accolades, the 15th Colombo Chess Festival also recognized top-performing teams in various categories. Sri Lanka Navy won the Mercantile and Government Services category. Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) claimed the top spot in the Higher Education category, with the University of Sri Jayawardenepura finishing as first runners-up.Players were also awarded across rating categories and age categories, encouraging wider participation and recognizing talent at various levels.
Blitz Championship
The Blitz Championship attracted 377 players and followed a 9-round Swiss format, with a fast-paced time control of 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move. Chenitha Mithvidu Ovitigala dominated the competition, winning the Open Blitz title with 8.5/9 points, remaining unbeaten. Three players tied for the first runner-up position with 8/9 points, but after tie-breaks, Pesandu Rashmitha Liyanage and C C Weerasinghe secured the first and second runners-up spots, while W M Minura Sathsindu finished in fourth place. In the Women’s Blitz category, AFM H Linuki Thisenka secured victory with 7/9 points, emerging victorious after a tie-break over B P Chanthuli Thanishka De Silva, who finished as the first runner-up. Gehansa Ranumi Dange claimed the second runner-up position with 6.5/9 points.
The festival’s awards ceremony was graced by Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya, President of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, who presented the winners with their medals, trophies, and certificates. The 15th Colombo Chess Festival, once again, cemented its position as a prestigious event, fostering chess talent and promoting the sport across Sri Lanka. With a strong turnout and exceptional performances across the board, the festival continues to be a key event on the Sri Lankan chess calendar, inspiring players of all ages and skill levels to participate and excel in the game.
Congratulations to all the winners and participants of the 15th Colombo Chess Festival!
Photographer – Anil Madu Sampath
