Chess Nationals begin

CHESS: The Sri Lanka National Chess Championships are scheduled to be held from today at Union Assurance Centre, Colombo 03 and on from February 24 at Hotel Topaz, Kandy. The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka has arranged a total Rs. 59,000 cash awards for the winners.

This is the most important Chess event conducted by the Chess Federation in their annual calendar and only the top 28 Chess players in the country will play in this particular event to gain the crown.

This year's event has become more competitive since it is the selection trials for the Chess Olympiad, to be held in May 2006 in Turin, Italy.

The both Open men and Women Events will be held on a round robin basis over 13 rounds and winners will be declared as the national Chess Champion for the year.

Four participants, Harsha and Harinlal Aturupane, Sunil Weeramanthry, all three FIDE masters and Last year National Champion TRD Pieris were eligible to play Nationals directly while Suneetha Wijesuriya, Chandima Wijewardena both having an International Rating above 2000 and UGY Methmali last year Women's Champion have qualified for Women's Nationals. Only Sunil Weeramanthry and UGY Methmali (Southland College has confirmed their participation.

The Following Players will compete at the Nationals: Dhanuka Kuruppu, Prasanna Kurukulasuriya, Romesh Weerawardena, (all three Paul Morphy Chess Club) Athula Russell (NB Chess Club), RS Kalugampitiya (Vidyartha College), GC Anuruddha (Old Vidyarthian's), Luxman Wijesuriya (University of Moratuwa), Marlon Fernando, (Passed Pawns CC) CKD Fonseka (HNB), Shamine De Moraeus (Blue and white CC), PSB Konara (Sri Lanka Insurance), RMCM Rajapaksha (Dharmaraja College), R. S. Dissanayake (Royal College).

Women: Mokshi Wijewardena, Uthpala Gurusinghe, Gayathri Herath, (All three Viharamahadevi BMV, Kiribathogda) Samanthi Wettasinghe (SriLankan Airlines), Pramodya Senanayake, Lihini Walallawita, (Both Musaeus) Manori Dassanayake, Lumbini Ambanwela (both from Mahamaya College), Vineetha Wijesuriya (Golden Queen Chess Club), Anjana Perera (Pushpadana College), Thilini Koswatte, (Mahamaya College), Shyama Galappatti, Ruvini Abeygunasekera (Maliyadeva Girls College).