The Commonwealth Chess Championship 2024 began today and will run until September 5, 2024. The championship is being held at the Citrus Hotel in Waskaduwa, Sri Lanka, and is organised by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Commonwealth Chess Association and FIDE. This year’s championship features both open and youth categories, with competitions for under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18, divided into open and girls’ categories.
The championship includes standard, rapid, and blitz formats. A total of 243 players from five federations are competing, including 11 Grandmasters (GMs), 2 Women’s Grandmasters (WGMs), 7 International Masters (IMs), 3 Women’s International Masters (WIMs), 3 FIDE Masters (FMs), and 3 Women’s FIDE Masters (WFMs). The Sri Lankan contingent has the largest representation, with 161 players. Today marked the first round of the standard championship.
Open Category: 69 players are competing. Notable results include:
- AIM Arul Prakash N (ELO 1922) of India drew with GM P A Iniyan (ELO 2547) of India.
- K K Dinujaya Kodithuwakku (ELO 1917) of Sri Lanka drew with GM Guha Mitrabha (ELO 2537) of India.
- Thushanu Yasmith Ganepola (ELO 1847) of Sri Lanka drew with GM Swapnil S. Dhopade (ELO 2433) of India.
- Klaus Lucas Yeo (ELO 1847) of Singapore drew with GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. (ELO 2423) of India.
- S D Nadev Insara (ELO 1838) of Sri Lanka drew with IM Ethan Vaz (ELO 2392) of India.
- Elath Mathanga De Silva (ELO 1804) of Sri Lanka drew with GM R.R. Laxman (ELO 2328) of India.
- By the end of the first round, 28 players scored 1 point.
- Under 8 Open Category: 30 players are competing, with 13 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
- Under 8 Girls Category: 28 players are competing, with 14 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
- Under 10 Open Category: 15 players are competing, with 6 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
- Under 10 Girls Category: 18 players are competing, with 8 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
- Under 12 Open Category: 24 players are competing, with 10 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
- Under 12 Girls Category: 24 players are competing, with 12 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
- Under 14 Open Category: 14 players are competing, with 7 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
- Under 14 Girls Category: 14 players are competing, with 7 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
- Under 16 Open Category: 16 players are competing, with 7 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
- Under 16 Girls Category: 15 players are competing, with 6 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
- Under 18 Open Category: 8 players are competing, with 3 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
- Under 18 Girls Category: 7 players are competing, with 3 players scoring 1 point after the first round.
The second round of the standard event will take place tomorrow, alongside the blitz championships in some categories.
Photographer – Anil Madu Sampath
