The inaugural FIDE Under 8-12 World Cup concluded today with WFM Devindya Oshini Gunawardena winning 3rd place in the U-12 Girls category beating Kristina Zavieva (FIDE) twice in the second round for a commanding victory to create history for Sri Lanka
The U8-12 FIDE World Cup was organized for the inaugural time in Batumi, Georgia with the participation of 286 players representing 38 nations across 3 age categories.
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Each category was broken into 2 groups with the players finishing in the same position in each group playing each other to determine the final rankings.
Drawn into Group B of the Girl’s U-12 age category, Oshini was the early front runner in the group winning her first 5 games. However, a heartbreaking loss in her penultimate game meant that she was caught in first place by Bordoloi Pratitee (India).
Despite finishing on 6/7 points and on equal first in the group she finished just behind Pratitee on tiebreak. However, she soon put any disappointment behind her to fight her way to a remarkable bronze medal highlighting her status as one of the leading women’s players in her age group in the world.
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Sri Lanka was represented at the tournament by a 5 player delegation with Oshini impressing the most while Hasini Anuththara Rupasinghe was also able to clinch 18th place in the U-8 Girls category. The other players in the Sri Lankan contingent were Venukan Nayanakheshan (U-8 Open), Thehas Rithmitha Kiringoda (U-10 Open), Sanuk Nanayakkara (U-12 Open)
This is not Oshini’s first triumphant foray on to the world stage having previously placed first at the FIDE World Cadets Championship (U-12 Girls) in Egypt as well as winning the West Asia U-12 Rapid Title in the U-12 Girls section.
Already a Women’s FIDE master and the senior national women’s champion Oshini will be hoping to show off her capabilities on one of the biggest stages of all at the Chess Olympiad, the biggest team chess championship in the world happening later this year.
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