The Commonwealth Rapid Chess Championship 2024 was a resounding success for Sri Lanka, which secured a total of ten medals: one gold, two silver, and seven bronze. This impressive haul highlights the country’s emerging talent in the world of chess.
Sri Lanka’s Medal Achievements:
Gold Medal:
Thehas Rithmitha Kiringoda triumphed in the Under 10 Open category, earning Sri Lanka its gold medal.
Silver Medals:
- M Esandi Newansa secured a silver medal in the Under 16 Girls category.
- H P Sanuli Swethma won silver in the Under 10 Girls category.
Bronze Medals: Sri Lanka’s young chess players also excelled, winning seven bronze medals across various categories:
- A A Kavishka Gimshan Laksiri in the Under 18 Open category
- Vihini Sahansa Jayaweera in the Under 18 Girls category
- AFM Nemindi Linaya Ramanayake in the Under 16 Girls category
- Sethumlee Devhara Palliyage in the Under 12 Girls category
- AFM Biman Koswattage in the Under 10 Open category
- U G Janiru Nethmitha in the Under 08 Open category
- S Nethumi Dihansa Perera in the Under 08 Girls category
The championship was held from August 31 to September 1, 2024, at the Citrus Hotel in Waskaduwa, Sri Lanka. Organized by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Commonwealth Chess Association and FIDE, the event ran parallel to the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2024. It featured an open championship and youth championships, categorized by age groups: Under 08, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18, with separate events for boys and girls. A total of 320 players participated in this prestigious tournament.
Open Championship:
- Participants: 48 players
- Champion: GM Guha Mitrabha of India (6.5/7 points)
- First Runner-up: GM Pa Iniyan of India (6/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: GM R.R. Laxman of India (5.5/7 points)
Women’s Championship:
- Participants: 11 players
- Champion: WFM Sirin Kalyani (4/7 points)
- First Runner-up: WGM Mary Ann Gomes of India (4/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: WIM Sakshi Chitlange of India (4/7 points)
Under 18 Open:
- Participants: 13 players
- Champion: FM Gaurang Bagwe of India (6.5/7 points)
- First Runner-up: Santhosh Parvathareddy Ajay of India (5/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: A A Kavishka Gimshan Laksiri of Sri Lanka (4.5/7 points)
Under 18 Girls:
- Participants: 7 players
- Champion: Leah Rice of Singapore (4.5/7 points)
- First Runner-up: WCM Datta Rajanya of India (4/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: Vihini Sahansa Jayaweera of Sri Lanka (3.5/7 points)
Under 16 Open:
- Participants: 18 players
- Champion: S Rohith of India (6.6/7 points)
- First Runner-up: Goyal Daksh of India (5.5/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: Akula Pranay of India (5.5/7 points)
Under 16 Girls:
- Participants: 16 players
- Champion: Mallick Mrittika of India (7/7 points, perfect score)
- First Runner-up: M Esandi Newansa of Sri Lanka (5/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: AFM Nemindi Linaya Ramanayake of Sri Lanka (4.5/7 points)
Under 14 Open:
- Participants: 18 players
- Champion: Viresh Sharnarthi of India (6.5/7 points)
- First Runner-up: V Raghav of India (5/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: Vatsal Singla of India (5/7 points)
Under 14 Girls:
- Participants: 19 players
- Champion: WCM Arshiya Das of India (6.5/7 points)
- First Runner-up: AFM Sree S Shanmathi of India (6/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: AFM Ruhani Raj Asudani of India (5/7 points)
Under 12 Open:
- Participants: 31 players
- Champion: Majumder Mayukh of India (6.5/7 points)
- First Runner-up: Akhil Prasad Sri of India (5.5/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: AIM Theophane Lenin Aadik of India (5.5/7 points)
Under 12 Girls:
- Participants: 28 players
- Champion: WCM Bordoloi Pratitee of India (6/7 points)
- First Runner-up: Ranganath Aadya of India (6/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: Sethumlee Devhara Palliyage of Sri Lanka (5.5/7 points)
Under 10 Open:
- Participants: 24 players
- Champion: Thehas Rithmitha Kiringoda of Sri Lanka (6/7 points)
- First Runner-up: Amit Agrawal Advik of India (5.5/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: AFM Biman Koswattage of Sri Lanka (5.5/7 points)
Under 10 Girls:
- Participants: 29 players
- Champion: Bijesh Divi of India (6.5/7 points)
- First Runner-up: H P Sanuli Swethma of Sri Lanka (5.5/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: Pungavanam Samhita of India (5/7 points)
Under 08 Open:
- Participants: 35 players
- Champion: ACM Sarbartho Mani of India (7/7 points, perfect score)
- First Runner-up: Phutane Ayaan of India (5.5/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: U G Janiru Nethmitha of Sri Lanka (5.5/7 points)
Under 08 Girls:
- Participants: 34 players
- Champion: Gumudavelly Nakshatra of India (6.5/7 points)
- First Runner-up: M Harshika of India (5.5/7 points)
- Second Runner-up: S Nethumi Dihansa Perera of Sri Lanka (5.5/7 points)
The Commonwealth Rapid Chess Championship 2024 was a testament to the depth of talent across the Commonwealth nations. With strong performances from young players, particularly from Sri Lanka and India, the event highlighted the bright future of chess. Sri Lanka’s impressive medal tally, especially among the younger categories, underscores the country’s growing prominence in the international chess community.
