The promising chess player Oshini Gunawardena of Wycherley International School who won the World Youth Chess Championship last year, produced another excellent display to win the Sri Lanka National Youth Chess Championship under-10 title.
Hasadi Sethumsa of Sujatha Vidyalaya won the under-8 title in this tournament conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL).
Oshini’ s achievement is more significant as this is the first time a girl won a mixed category event at any age group of this most prestigious Youth Chess Championships. Oshini, the most promising girl chess player in the country, scored 6.5 points out of a possible seven games, shared with KG Wimalaratne of Kingswood College.
But Oshini’ won the championship trophy and the Gold medal on a better tie breaker.
She beat Nethul Kottage, Rashmitha Herath, Aken Gunasekara, Githmal de Silva, Ramika Methmin and Kausara Kodithuwakku and drew with KG Wimalaratne to achieve 6.5points.
Wimalaratne of Kingswood College finished second with 6.5 points in the under-8 Open category. He beat Hansaka Kothalawala, Thinuga Hettiarachchi, Danara Herath, Himantha Anuhas, Theekshana Ranasinghe and Sanuk Nanayakkara and drew with the champion to share the top spot but had to be satisfied with the silver medal on the tie break points.
The bronze medal went to Githmal de Silva of Devananda College, Ambalangoda on a better tie breaker after tying with six points out of possible seven games. Amila, Dulein and Kavinu had to be satisfied with fourth and fifth places respectively.
Meanwhile, young Hasadi Sethumsa was outstanding to score full seven points out of seven games to win the under-8 category convincingly. She beat all her opponents to win the championship trophy and the Gold medal.
Syathara Dissanayake (St. Joseph’s Balika) and Risali Jayaweera (Musaeus) scored seven points each but Syathara won the under-8 silver medal on the better tie breaker.
Risali lost just one game to Syathara to win the bronze medal.
The top three players of this tournament will be included in the National Youth Chess teams to represent the country in the Asian and World Youth events.