Favourites on top after round 3

Royal Challenge International Chess Championship:

There have been no major surprises in the inaugural Royal Challenge International Chess Championship with all major players making it to Round 4 without trouble.

National Champion Athula Russell, R.S. Kalugampitiya, Luxman Wijesuriya, Oshadhee Kottahachchy and Isuru Alahakoon won their respective games through round 3. They are joined at the top by schoolboys L.N. Perera (Dharmaraja) and Semuthu Pinto (St. Anne’s, Kurunegala), Shanaka Munasinghe (Ananda), Thilina Egodage (Dharmasoka), Lahiru Hapuarachchi (Kingswood) and Krishna B Prasanna (India).

A total of 128 players are taking part in this tournament, organized by the Blue and Gold Chess Club, with the support of the Royal College Chess Club.

The tournament is sponsored by Hewlett-Packard and Mobitel and is being held at the Royal College Union auditorium.