The inaugural DINI International Chess Championship 2024 saw Kundu Subhayan of India crowned as the Open Champion, while WCM K M Dahamdi Sanudula of Sri Lanka emerged as the Women’s Champion. This prestigious Grand Master tournament, held from July 29th to August 4th at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, has set a new standard in Sri Lankan chess.
The DINI International Chess Championship 2024, organized by the Blue & Gold Chess Club and sponsored by DiNi Communications, Inc., featured a substantial prize fund of USD 20,000 (approximately six million Sri Lankan rupees). The Open Champion received 900,000 Sri Lankan rupees, while the Women’s Champion was awarded 250,000 Sri Lankan rupees. Winners were also recognized in various rating categories, making this the most competitive chess tournament in Sri Lankan history.
The tournament attracted top-tier talent, including ten Grand Masters, six International Masters, one Woman International Master, and five FIDE Masters, totaling 157 players. GM Diptayan Ghosh (ELO 2568) of India was the top seed. The event was structured as a ten-round Swiss format with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The winners were determined at the end of the championship based on their overall performance.
Kundu Subhayan of India clinched the Open Championship with an impressive 7.5/10 points, remaining unbeaten throughout the event. Despite five players tying with 7.5/10 points, Subhayan’s superior tie-break performance secured his victory. GM Li Min Peng of Switzerland and GM Kirill Stupak of Belarus finished as the first and second runners-up, respectively. GM Boris Savchenko of Russia and GM Deepan Chakkravarthy J. rounded out the top five.
In the Women’s category, WCM K M Dahamdi Sanudula of Sri Lanka won the championship with a score of 6.5/10 points, edging out ACM V C Nivedita of India, who also scored 6.5/10 points, via superior tie-breaks. Mallick Mrittika of India, AFM Nyna Gorli of India, and AFM R M Dulinma Hemalni Rathnayake of Sri Lanka tied with 5.5/10 points, with Mrittika securing the second runner-up position based on tie-breaks.
Rating under 2000: Lahiru Munasinghe of Sri Lanka won with 6.5/10 points, with T H D Thisarindu Induwara of Sri Lanka and A Umashankar of India finishing as the first and second runners-up, respectively.
Rating between 2001 to 2199: Pesandu Rashmitha Liyanage of Sri Lanka emerged victorious with 6.5/10 points. Shrayan Majumder and AFM Naveen Kumar P of India secured the first and second runners-up positions, both scoring 6/10 points.
Rating between 2200 to 2349: GM Alexei Barsov of Uzbekistan won with 6.5/10 points, while IM Poorna Sharma Mithrakanth of India finished as the first runner-up with 6/10 points.
Sivanathan Sivathanujan of Sri Lanka delivered the best performance among Sri Lankan players, scoring 7/10 points and ranking 13th overall. He notably defeated GM Sayantan Das of India and drew against GM Boris Savchenko of Russia during the event.
The awards ceremony was graced by Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Transport, Highways, and Mass Media, and Mrs. Nirmala Wijedasa, representing DiNi Communications Inc. Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya, President of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, also attended, highlighting the significance of the event in promoting chess in Sri Lanka.
The DINI International Chess Championship 2024 has undoubtedly set a high standard for future chess tournaments in the region, celebrating both the winners and the spirit of the game.
