Gimantha - youngest Lankan at Asian Chess C'ships

A.Sumanasena -Kolonnawa Group

Gimantha Gayasha Kiriella, a grade two student at St. Peter's College Colombo 3 became the youngest contestant to represent Sri Lanka at the seventh Asian Chess Championship which was held at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India recently.

He has succeeded many events he had competed so far, including victories at the (best on board-under 8) western province Team Chess Championship in 2010, Colombo District Youth Rapid Chess Championship and All Island Inter School Chess championships in the same year. One of his recent achievements is winning the all-island inter-school individual chess championships 2011.

He qualified for the Asian championships when he clinched the Under-7 'A' title of the All-Island inter-schools individual chess championships.

Some of his achievements are as follows:

First runner up (under7) - Sixth Asian Schools Chess Championship 2010 organized by Chess Federation of Sri Lanka

Champion, Western Province (under-8)- Ediriweera Sarathchandra Invitational Schools Chess Championships 2010.

Best on Board 5 (under- 8) - Golden Square International - Western Province Team Chess Championships 2010.

Merit (under- 8) - Kolonnawa Chess Academy - Western Province age group Chess Championships 2010, Organized by Chess Federation of Sri Lanka.

Merit (under-7) - All Island Schools Individual Zonal Chess Championships 2010.

First Runner-Up(under-8) - Mind Warriors Chess Academy - Western Province Individual Chess Championships 2011.

2011 (qualified for all island finals).

Champion (under 8) - Asoka College Colombo - 2011 Western Province Individual Chess Championships.

Champion (under 8) - Chesss Master Chess Academy - 2011 Western Province Individual Chess Championship.

Champion (under 8) - Golden Kings - 2011 Western Province team Chess Championships.

Best on Board 4 (under 8) - Golden Kings - 2011 Western Province team Chess Championship.

First runner-up (under 8)- Golden Square International - Western Province age group Chess Championship 2011.

Champion (under 8) - Castle Chess Club All Island Inter Schools Chess Championship Western Province 2011.

Champion (under 8) - Thurstan College Western Province Chess Championship 2011.

Champion (under 8) - Golden Queen Chess Club Western Province Chess Championship 2011.

Champion (under 7) - All Island Sri Lanka Inter School Individual Chess Championship 2011.