The Ethugalpura Women’s Blitz Chess Championship 2024, organized by the Knights Flame Chess Club, was led by NA Taniya Kumari as the Tournament Director and NA Nuwanthi Rajapaksha as the Chief Arbiter, ended with remarkable strength, determination, and brilliance for the game of chess, Being a part of the much-talked-about 14th Ethugalpura International Chess Festival, this was actually a festival celebrating women on and off the board: players not only but arbiters, organizers, and champions in the making.
The tourney, of course, testified to the influence women are building in the chess world these days, while organizers did take pains to visualize a hope to give strength and encouragement to the new generation of girl chess players within Sri Lanka.
Top 5 Players After 6 Rounds
Gehansa Ranumi Dange (SRI, 1755) – From Girls’ High School, Kandy, Gehansa brought sheer strategy combined with lightning decision-making and has been the untouchable champion for th
e day with 6 points in 6 games, an all-win win!- Hirudini Dehenya (SRI, 1618) – The student from Royal International School, Kurunegala, had a great event as she finished with 5 points and an astonishing tie-break score of **22.5**.
- WCM Eesha Mishela Pallie (SRI, 1783) – The WCM from Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo showed she was not a pushover as she scored 5 points and gave the other tough competitors a run for their money.
- J. M. Senudhi Ahasya Jayasinghe (SRI, 1705) – For Queenstar International, Senudhi impressed with 5 points, mixing razor-sharp calculations and creative play.
- Hesanya Thanthulage (SRI, 1491) – Holy Cross College student Hesanya completed the top five with 5 points, showing amazing resilience and fighting spirit.
A Women-Led Event
What made this tournament special, however, was that it was totally organized by women. From the dedicated arbiters to the effective organizers, everything about this event portrayed what women are capable of in organizing an event. The all-women initiative was to celebrate and highlight the presence of women in chess and hopefully bring in more participants right from the grassroots level.
Purpose and Vision
The Ethugalpura Women’s Blitz Championship was not just a chess tournament; it was a movement towards building a strong chess culture amongst women in Sri Lanka. This event sought to shine a light on the tremendous potential women have in chess and demonstrate to the world that women can indeed shine as players, leaders, and role models in chess.
Looking Ahead
The Women’s Blitz Championship was a highlight of the Ethugalpura Chess Festival and was a beacon of hope and empowerment for aspiring young female players. As the chess community gets ready for the final day of the festival tomorrow, this event stands tall as a proud reminder of what women can achieve when given the stage.
Keep watching for more updates and join us in celebrating the final rounds tomorrow culminating into the grand Prize Awarding Ceremony at 7:00 PM. Let us continue to support the growth of women’s chess and make it a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s chess legacy!
