Chess Nationals conclude

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

Chess: Defending national chess champion Athula Russel retained his crown for the third time when he emerged champion at the National championship which was concluded at `Kithusevana' Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07 over the weekend. The championship was organised by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka.

Russel won the title for the second consecutive time after obtaining a total of ten points out of a possible thirteen points. He drew with R.M.C.M. Rajapakse in the final round. Dulan Edirisinghe with eight and half points was the runner-up beating Laxman Wijesooriya in the final.

W.Lasantha Chamara Chandraratne taking part at a national championship for the first time put up a better performance to clinch the third place by obtaining eight points after the tie break system, while Rajapakse and Wijesooriya were the other players who obtained eight points each.

In the Women's final Pramodya Senanayake (Musaeus College) defeated Vineetha Wijesooriya to win the women's championship title with a total of nine points out of a possible eleven points.

Sachini Ranasinghe (Musaeus College) beat Lakshika Rajapakse to become the runner-up with eight and half points, while Thilini Koswatte (Girls' High School, Kandy) with seven and half points won the third place. Thilini beat Irindu Basnayake in the final.

Lumbini Ambanwela, Lihini Walallawita and Vineetha Wijesooriya obtained six and half points each. Last year's champion G.W. Methmali did not participate this year.