As the 14th Ethugalpura International Rating Chess Championship nears its crescendo, Day 4 brought the house down with some thrilling chess action. With players putting their best foot forward, the day saw some of the most unbelievable tactics and comebacks on display. After two grueling rounds, which reshuffled the leaderboard completely, the tone was set for the final rounds tomorrow.
Open Event: Leaders After Round 8
- Indrajeet Mahindrakar (IND, 2099) – Still blemish-free, the tournament leader continues his faultless campaign with 8 points. Some razor-sharp tactics by the unruffled winner collapsed his opponent’s central structure in Round 8 for yet another comprehensive victory.
- A. A. H. M. B. Senarathne (SRI, 1927) – Senarathne is second on the leaderboard with 7.5 points, on the back of some intrepid sacrifices, which he converts to wins with wholesome endgames. His ability to recover from tight situations has been remarkable.
- R. K. T. Dissanayake (SRI, 1848) – With 7.5 points, the defensive skills of Dissanayake have been his hallmark as he turns around difficult positions into wins. The surprise mate he forced in Round 7 has been one of the highlights of the tournament so far.
- Jude Dorison Gnanaseelan (SRI, 1806) – With 7 points, Gnanaseelan continues to be among the front runners because of his sharp openings and clear positional understanding. A vital win in Round 8 separated him from a pack in a keen competition.
- G. W. D. M. Dabarera (SRI, 1926) – With 7 points, Dabarera matched Gnanaseelan mainly because of his ability to outlast opponents in several fighting finishes. He looks at his best when under time pressure.
Key Moments and Underdogs Rising
Day 4 had its share of astonishing upsets and brilliant games. It was also a day when the lower-rated players showed much grit, and some young talents left their mark against experienced opponents. One of the unexpected draws came on Board 3, where a dynamic exchange sacrifice by a lower-rated player neutralized an higher-rated competitor’s advantage.
But it wasn’t just the top tables buzzing with action; the middle tables played their part in jockeying for better pairing going into the last day. Every half a point counts now as the fight for a top 10 finish has been nothing short of relentless.
Glimpses of Women’s Blitz Event: Pure Power and Precision
Giving a grand flourish to the day’s events was the Women’s Blitz Event: simply dazzling with its incredible rapidity of moves and strategic pyrotechnics. The preciseness with which the top players played can only be described as simply astonishing.
Catch the full report and player highlights on ethugalpura.chesssl.com
A Pulsating Finish on the Cards
Tomorrow, 24th of December, can prove to be an emotionally taxing day of comebacks and suspense:
- 08.00 AM: Round 09
- 01.30 PM: Round 10
- 07.00 PM: Prize Awarding Ceremony
Finest performances by top contenders are in order to win, with the most important battle for the championship title. The closing ceremony will be merrier, celebrating the brilliance of the whole tournament and all the efforts from players, organizers, and supporters.
Christmas Spirit in Ethugalpura
The turn of the last day brings a special festive flavor to the on-going championship. Ethics sports and community spirit of chess lovers in Sri Lanka have united in the Ethugalpura Chess Festival.
The games tomorrow promise much excitement, as indeed the entire experience of this chess festival!
