Former National women’s chess champion WIM Sachini Ranasinghe (Nf3 Chess Club) emerged champion of the inaugural Sri Lanka Women’s Chess Grand Prix 2020 conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka at their Headquarters last week.
Being four times national chess champion Ranasinghe played excellent chess from the start to beat nine of her opponents.
She was held to a draw by Nelunika Methmani to obtain a total score of 9½ points out of 10 games.
She beat WFM Dinushki Premanath, WCM Tharushi Niklesha, Oneli Weerawardena,
Ashvini Pavalchandran, Prasansa Premanath, Nemindi Ramanayake, Janandani Abeysinghe, Sayumi Vimansa Piyumanthi and Sayumi Gamage. She drew with Nelunika Methmani in the sixth round.
She lost only to Sandeepani Tharushi in the 11th round.
WFM Dinushki Premanath (University of Moratuwa) was runner-up with 8.0 points.
She lost to Ranasinghe and Sayumi Gamage.
WCM Tharushi Niklesha of Visakha Vidyalaya finished in third place with 8.0 points.
The first women’s sporting event in Sri Lanka after the Covid-19 outbreak and the toughest women’s chess battle of the year was conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka from July 25 to August 2 with a total prize money of Rs. 70,000 and trophies being presented. (YK)