Sri Lanka claim 4 Gold Medals in Commonwealth Blitz Chess Championship

The Commonwealth Chess Championship kicked off with the blitz event at the Citrus Hotel Waskaduwa. The tournament was competed across an open category as well as 12 separate age group categories covering both men’s and women’s events. 

The title of Commonwealth Blitz Chess Champion went to GM Swapnil Dhopade (India) who finished ahead on tiebreak of GM Mitraba Guha (India) with both players scoring 7.5/9 points. IM NB Madhavan Hari (India) won the bronze medal. 

Sri Lanka was more successful in the age group categories taking home 4 golds through WCM KM Sandula Dahamdi (U18 Girls), Amesha Shenali Wijesinghe (U16 Girls), WFM Devindya Oshini Gunawardena (U12 Girls) and Thehas Rithmitha Kiringoda (U10 Open). India won the other 8 age group titles on offer. 

Sri Lanka came away with another 7 third place finishes in the tournament to finish as the second strongest team on show after India. 

The Commonwealth Chess Championship will also include a classical tournament which is currently ongoing. 

Commonwealth Blitz Chess Championship 

Open Section 

1. GM Swapnil Dhopade (India)
2. GM Mitraba Guha (India)
3. IM Madhavan Hari (India)

U18 Open 

1. Ajay Parvathareddy (India)
2. FM Gaurang Bagwe (India)
3. Sasandu Upeksha Dissanayake (Sri Lanka)

U18 Girls 

1. WCM KM Dahamdi Sandula (Sri Lanka)
2. WCM Datta Rajanya (India)
3. WCM Ehsha Mishela Pallie (Sri Lanka)

U16 Open 

1. Goyal Daksh (India)
2. S Rohith (India)
3. KARGWSNBI Galkotuwa (Sri Lanka)

U16 Girls 

1. Amesha Shenali Wijesinghe (Sri Lanka)
2. Mallick Mrittika (India)
3. AFM Jain Yashvi (India)

U14 Open 

1. AIM BU Premshankar (India)
2. Viresh Sharnarthi (India)
3. V Raghav (India)

U14 Girls 

1. WCM Arshiya Das (India)
2. AFM Sree S Shanmathi (India)
3. Theruni Jayasundara (Sri Lanka)

U12 Open 

1. Poonja Siddanth (India)
2. AIM Theophane Aadik (India)
3. Majumder Mayukh (India)

U12 Girls 

1. WFM Devindya Oshini Gunawardena (Sri Lanka)
2. WCM Bordoloi Pratitee (India)
3. Shah Hanya (India)

U10 Open 

1. Thehas Rithmitha Kiringoda (Sri Lanka)
2. Amit Agarwal Advik (India)
3. Sethika Hansira Samaraweera (Sri Lanka)

U10 Girls 

1. Pungavanam Samhita (India)
2. Bijesh Divi (India)
3. Isali Leelananda (Sri Lanka)

U08 Open 

1. Phutane Ayaan (India)
2. Hriday Garg (India)
3. ACM Sarbatho Mani (India)

U08 Girls 

1. Gumudavelly Nakshatra (India)
2. M Harshika (India)
3. Eleesha Fernando (Sri Lanka)

WFM Devindya Oshini Gunawardena – Wycherley International school

Amesha Shenali Wijesinghe- Mahamaya Girls College

Thehas Rithmitha Kiringoda-Ananda College

WCM KM Dahamdi Sandula-Musaeus College