Chenitha Mithvidu Ovitigala and WCM M Esandi Newansa Crowned Champions at the 3rd Super Knights International Rating Chess Championship 2025
The 3rd Super Knights International Rating Chess Championship 2025 concluded successfully on March 2, 2025, after an intense five-day competition. Hosted at the Avinka Grand Luxury Banquets in Thalagala, Homagama, the championship was organized by the Super Knights Chess Academy under the guidance of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, the Asian Chess Federation, and FIDE.
With a prize fund of Rs. 1,700,000, the tournament attracted some of Sri Lanka’s most talented chess players, who competed for medals, certificates, and trophies across multiple categories. The championship featured two main events: the Standard Championship and the Blitz Championship, both conducted in a Swiss format.
Standard Championship: Ovitigala and Newansa Dominate Their Categories
The Standard Championship, played over nine rounds using a 90-minute time control with a 30-second increment per move, saw 287 players battling for the title.
In the Open Category, Chenitha Mithvidu Ovitigala emerged victorious, scoring an outstanding 8 out of 9 points, remaining undefeated throughout the tournament. The competition for the runner-up positions was intense, with four players finishing with 7.5 points. After tie-break calculations, A. P. Chenitha Sihas Dinsara Karunasena secured the first runner-up position, while Pesandu Rashmitha Liyanage claimed the second runner-up title. Osheen De Silva and CM Mojitha Sathsara Gunaratne finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
In the Women’s Category, WCM M Esandi Newansa delivered a strong performance, scoring 7 out of 9 points to clinch the championship title. WCM J. M. Theruni V. Jayasundara secured the first runner-up position with 6.5 points, while Hesanya Thanthulage took the second runner-up spot with 6 points.
The championship also recognized achievements across different team and rating categories. Sri Lanka Navy claimed victory in the Mercantile and Government Services category, while NSBM Green University secured the championship in the Higher Education category.
In the Senior Category, Anthony J. Samuel won the championship with 5 out of 9 points. AFM D. D. W. Gamini Karunarathne also finished with 5 points, but due to tie-break calculations, Samuel was declared the champion, while Karunarathne had to settle for the first runner-up position. P. K. Jagath Perera secured the second runner-up spot with 4.5 points.
Blitz Championship: Liyanage and Newansa Claim Victory
The Blitz Championship saw an even larger turnout, with 382 players participating in a fast-paced competition. The event was conducted over nine rounds, with a time control of 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move.
In the Open Category, Pesandu Rashmitha Liyanage and Chenitha Mithvidu Ovitigala both finished with 8.5 out of 9 points, making for an intense championship race. However, based on tie-break calculations, Liyanage was awarded the championship, while Ovitigala had to settle for the first runner-up position. D. C. J. Karunaratne finished third, securing the second runner-up title with 8 points.
The Women’s Category witnessed another dominant performance from WCM M Esandi Newansa, who won the championship with 7.5 points. The fight for the runner-up positions was closely contested, with WCM J. M. Theruni V. Jayasundara and ACM A. G. Hansadie Aradhya Akuratiya both finishing with 6.5 points. However, tie-break rules placed Jayasundara as the first runner-up, while Akuratiya secured the second runner-up position.
Awards Ceremony and Closing Remarks
The tournament concluded with a prestigious awards ceremony, graced by Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya, President of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, who attended as the chief guest. He was joined by Mr. Yasiru Mihiranga, CEO and Founder of Super Knights Chess Club, and Mr. Shakthi Ediriweera, Secretary of Super Knights Chess Club.
The 3rd Super Knights International Rating Chess Championship 2025 was a resounding success, providing a platform for both emerging and established players to showcase their skills. The tournament continues to cement its status as one of Sri Lanka’s premier chess events, encouraging the growth of the sport across different levels.
Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their dedication and outstanding performances!
To download awards ceremony photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wtezV9cmBdk96Ce6pcSHjZ6BeLBpo_G1?usp=sharing
