Sri Lanka Shines at the 7th Western Asian Blitz Youth Chess Championship 2024
The 7th Western Asian Blitz Youth Chess Championship 2024 witnessed a stellar performance by the Sri Lankan team, which secured a total of thirteen medals. The medals included three golds, three silvers, and seven bronzes, underscoring the exceptional talent and preparation of the Sri Lankan youth chess players.
In the under 10 open category, A P Chenitha Sihas Dinsara Karunasena emerged victorious, clinching the gold medal. WFM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana triumphed in the under 12 girls’ category, and Vinuka Dihain Wijerathna secured the top position in the under 12 open category.
Silver medals were awarded to U G Janiru Nethmitha in the under 08 open category, Lohas Dewmina Rodrigo in the under 10 open category, and M Esandi Newansa in the under 16 girls’ category.
Bronze medals were claimed by S Nethumi Dihansa Perera in the under 08 girls’ category, Dulein Thenula Ambagahawaththa in the under 08 open category, Thehas Rithmitha Kiringoda in the under 10 open category, Tharuli Dihansa Senarathne in the under 12 girls’ category, K A R G W D R B G Galkotuwa in the under 14 open category, Gehansa Ranumi Dange in the under 16 girls’ category, and Dehansa Nisanduni Sandanayake in the under 18 girls’ category.
The 7th Western Asian Blitz Youth Chess Championship 2024 was held on July 13, 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. Participants included players from Western Asian Chess Federations (Zones 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.7, and 3.8) affiliated with the Asian Chess Federation.
The Blitz Championship featured separate categories for Under 08, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18, with distinctions between Open and Girls sections. Each category was contested in a 9-round Swiss format, with a time control of 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move. A total of 317 players from 10 federations participated in this event.
Category Highlights:
Under 08 Open:
– Champion: Almir Altair (Kazakhstan) – 8/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: U G Janiru Nethmitha (Sri Lanka) – 7/9 points
– 2nd Runner-up: Dulein Thenula Ambagahawaththa (Sri Lanka) – 6.5/9 points (tie-break)
Under 08 Girls:
– Champion: Azaliya Balakanova (Kazakhstan) – 7/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: Smagulova Umutai (Kyrgyzstan) – 7/9 points (tie-break)
– 2nd Runner-up: S Nethumi Dihansa Perera (Sri Lanka) – 6.5/9 points (tie-break)
Under 10 Open:
– Champion: A P Chenitha Sihas Dinsara Karunasena (Sri Lanka) – 8.5/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: Lohas Dewmina Rodrigo (Sri Lanka) – 8/9 points
– 2nd Runner-up: Thehas Rithmitha Kiringoda (Sri Lanka) – 6.5/9 points
Under 10 Girls:
– Champion: Bijesh Divi (India) – 9/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: Zhansaya Sholpanbek (Kazakhstan) – 7/9 points (tie-break)
– 2nd Runner-up: Shree R Pooja (India) – 7/9 points (tie-break)
Under 12 Open:
– Champion: Vinuka Dihain Wijerathna (Sri Lanka) – 8/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: Aihan Rahbar (Iran) – 7.5/9 points (tie-break)
– 2nd Runner-up: Koorosh Biglarifard (Iran) – 7.5/9 points (tie-break)
Under 12 Girls:
– Champion: WFM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana (Sri Lanka) – 8/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: WCM Khusbu Warsia (Bangladesh) – 6.5/9 points
– 2nd Runner-up: Tharuli Dihansa Senarathne (Sri Lanka) – 6/9 points (tie-break)
Under 14 Open:
– Champion: Kowshik Chinmay (India) – 7.5/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: Nurmukhammed Kabinazar (Kazakhstan) – 6.5/9 points
– 2nd Runner-up: K A R G W D R B G Galkotuwa (Sri Lanka) – 6/9 points (tie-break)
Under 14 Girls:
– Champion: Mariya Kholyavko (Kazakhstan) – 8/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: WCM Arshiya Das (India) – 7/9 points (tie-break)
– 2nd Runner-up: Sree S Shanmathi (India) – 7/9 points (tie-break)
Under 16 Open:
– Champion: FM Imran Md (India) – 7.5/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: FM Imangali Akhilbay (Kazakhstan) – 7/9 points (tie-break)
– 2nd Runner-up: Akula Pranay (India) – 7/9 points (tie-break)
Under 16 Girls:
– Champion: Raman Ananya (India) – 8/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: M Esandi Newansa (Sri Lanka) – 7/9 points
– 2nd Runner-up: Gehansa Ranumi Dange (Sri Lanka) – 6/9 points
Under 18 Open:
– Champion: FM Erzhan Zhakshylykov (Kyrgyzstan) – 7.5/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: FM Reja Neer Manon (Bangladesh) – 6.5/9 points (tie-break)
– 2nd Runner-up: Arshia Mohammadian Sechani (Iran) – 6.5/9 points (tie-break)
Under 18 Girls:
– Champion: WFM Guldona Karimova (Uzbekistan) – 8/9 points
– 1st Runner-up: WFM Shree Reddy Keerti (India) – 6.5/9 points
– 2nd Runner-up: Dehansa Nisanduni Sandanayake (Sri Lanka) – 6/9 points
Congratulations to all the winners for their outstanding performances in this exciting and highly competitive tournament!
https://chess-results.com/tnr971337.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=9&turdet=ALL&flag=30
