Sri Lankan National Chess Champion Ranindu Liyanage created history by participating in the FIDE Chess World Cup which is now progress in Sochi, Russia . Being the first Sri Lankan chess player to play in the most prestigious chess event in the World the 18 year old Anandian has brought honour to the country. He won the bronze medal at the recently concluded Asian Hybrid Chess Championship.
Ranindu represented the under 14 National team that won the bronze medal at Asian Nations Cup held at China in 2016. He won the bronze medal in under 14 age category of the West Asian Youth Chess Championship held in Sri Lanka in 2017 and was awarded Candidate Master title from World Chess Federation (FIDE). He also represented the under 16 National team for the World Youth Chess Championship at Turkey in 2018 and also participated in the World Junior (under 20 ) Chess Championship at Turkey in the same year.
The promising chess player started his career when he was in grade two at the Asoka Primary school, Kalagedihena, Gampaha under the guidance of Nimal Ratnasiri that was way back in 2009.
He was able to be ranked sixth and was the member of the the Sri Lanka under 7 team which won the Gold Medal’ in the Asian School Chess Championship held in Sri Lanka In 2010. This was the turning point of his chess career. After he crossed over to Ananda College Colombo from grade three the well known women’s chess player and coach Suneetha Wijesuriya who is the Sri Lanka’s first ever Chess Olympiad gold medalist and nine time National champion gave fine support to young Ranindu to build up his career. Nimal Rathnasiri, Liyanapathirana, Tharindu Chandrasiri Nethupul Athukorala and Prasanna Kurukulasuriya also gave their guidance as Raninidu’s coaches.
TheInternational Master Romesh Weerawardane, the well known Chess player and first Sri Lankan who won the International Master title and coach from 2013 always supported this young player .
Ranindu has already represented Sri Lanka many times in Asian and World Chess Championships and has visited eleven countries Greece, Philippines, Thailand, Romania, China, Singapore, Turkey, Russia, Vietnam, Iran and India to gain more experience. He led the Ananda College chess teams in all age groups between under 10 to under 17. He emerged champion under 10 in the National Youth Rapid Chess
Championship 2013, under 14 champion in the National Youth Blitz Chess championship 2016. Under 14 champion in the National Youth Rapid Chess championship in 2016, under 15 champion in the National Schools Chess championship in 2018, under 16 champion in the National Youth Chess Championship 2018.
In addition Ranindu emerged Champion of the Junior National Chess Championship in 2018 and National Blitz Chess Chess Championship in 2020. He was the 1st runner up of the National Rapid Chess championship in 2020 and emerged National Chess champion in 2020.
Before the departure of the FIDE Chess World Cup team to Russia Ranidu Liyanage was able to meet Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa and obtained his blessings.
The Minister gave his warm wishes to young Ranindu Liyanage and said this was a proud moment as this is the first time a Sri Lankan is competing at FIDE Chess World Cup. Ranidu’s father Rajesh Liyanage and CFSL President Luxman Wijesuriya and Deputy President of CFSL Deepthi Hewageegana were also present on this occasion.