Gold in Open Group D and Bronze in Women’s Group C
The 45th Chess Olympiad 2024, held from September 10 to 22, 2024, in Budapest, Hungary, marked a significant milestone for Sri Lanka on the international chess stage. The Sri Lankan Open team secured the Gold Medal in Group D, while the Sri Lankan Women’s team earned the Bronze Medal in Group C, capping off a highly successful campaign for the country.
Hosted by the Hungarian Chess Federation under the auspices of FIDE, the Chess Olympiad and the 95th FIDE Congress took place at BOK Hall, a premier venue in the heart of Budapest. With a proud history dating back to the first unofficial Chess Olympiad in 1926, Hungary once again became the epicentre of world chess.
This year’s Olympiad saw 197 teams competing in the Open category and 183 teams in the Women’s category. Teams competed over 11 rounds, using the Swiss-system format, with each player given 40 moves in 90 minutes, followed by 30 additional minutes and a 30-second increment per move from the start.
Sri Lankan Open Team: Gold Medal in Group D
Ranked 134th at the outset, the Sri Lankan Open team exceeded expectations, finishing in 90th place overall and claiming 11 match points. Their Group D triumph was built on crucial victories against teams from Gabon, Angola, Senegal, Sudan, and Jordan, and a hard-fought draw in the final round against Thailand.
The standout players were IM Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage and K K Dinujaya Kodithuwakku, both of whom scored 7/11 points. Ranindu posted a remarkable rating performance of 2414, while Dinujaya’s performance stood at 2220. Dhanushka Bandara contributed 5/11 points (rating performance 2039), and Kosala Sandeepa Chamikara Amarathunga added 4/11 points (rating performance 2183).
The Sri Lankan Open team was composed of:
- IM Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage (ELO 2366)
- Kosala Sandeepa Chamikara Amarathunga (ELO 1956)
- Dhanushka Bandara (ELO 1903)
- K K Dinujaya Kodithuwakku (ELO 1826)
IM Zhanibek Amanov, serving as the non-playing captain and the trainer of both teams.
In the broader Open category, India, the United States, and Uzbekistan secured the top three spots.
Sri Lankan Women’s Team: Bronze Medal in Group C
Despite an initial ranking of 82nd and missing the first two rounds of the competition, the Sri Lankan Women’s team fought valiantly to finish in 40th place overall. Their resilience and determination were on full display as they secured six wins and one draw, defeating teams from Cote d’Ivoire, Bahamas, Suriname, Egypt, Trinidad & Tobago, and North Macedonia. They also managed a draw against the higher-ranked Norwegian team.
Leading the women’s team was WIM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana, who scored a stunning 8.5/9 points, with a rating performance of 2230. WCM Ehsha Mishela Pallie contributed 6/9 points (rating performance 2031), while WCM K M Dahamdi Sanudula added 5/7 points (rating performance 2192). WCM T H D Niklesha Tharushi scored 4/9 points, and H M H Janandani Abeysinghe scored 1/2 points.
The Sri Lankan Women’s team consisted of:
- WIM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana (ELO 1956)
- WCM K M Dahamdi Sanudula (ELO 2023)
- WCM T H D Niklesha Tharushi (ELO 1852)
- WCM Ehsha Mishela Pallie (ELO 1767)
- H M H Janandani Abeysinghe (ELO 1752)
Maheshika Rupasinghe served as the non-playing captain for the women’s team.
In the Women’s category, the top three places were claimed by India, Kazakhstan, and the United States.
The outstanding performances of both the Sri Lankan Open and Women’s teams have brought immense pride to the nation. Their achievements in Budapest—gold in Group D and bronze in Group C—underline Sri Lanka’s growing prowess in international chess and inspire the next generation of players to strive for greatness on the global stage.
As the 45th Chess Olympiad 2024 draws to a close, Sri Lanka’s teams leave with a lasting legacy, having showcased their resilience, talent, and passion for the game.
Congratulations to the Sri Lankan teams for their incredible achievements at this prestigious global event. They have made the country proud, and the future of Sri Lankan chess looks brighter than ever.
