Indians Rahul and Savitha clinch titles
The unbeaten V.S Rahul of India drew with Orini Gholami of Iran to finish with 7 ½ points out of 9 games to win the Asian Junior Chess Championship title with the IM title and a GM norm while Indian Shri Saviitha won the women’s title The seven day Asian Junior Championship which concluded at Citrus Hotel Waskaduwa successfully concluded with the Indians dominating the event Rahul had a great performance, leading from the start till the end to win the Gold Medal. He beat Kosala Amarahunga, Isara Dhahanayake, Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage all three from Sri Lanka and three Indian International Masters Vardaan Nagpal, GB Harshawardana and Mitrabha Guha while he drew three games with Susal De Silva Sri Lanka, International Master ,Shrihari Ragunandan of India and Gholami of Iran in the last round to bag the title in grand style.
Meanwhile Women International Master Shri Savitha of India drew her last game with Chanindi Attanayake of Sri Lanka and earned the Championship convincingly to win a WGM Norm with the Gold Medal and the coveted Trophy.
Savitha scored 7 points with five wins with Gimashi Weeratunghe, Niklesha Tharushi, and Oshini Gunawardena of Sri Lanka, Al Maamari of UAE and Women International Master, K Priyanka of India and four draws against Melika Mohammadi, Anousha Mahdian, both of Iran, Sanudula Dahamdi and Chanindi Mewna Attanayake both of Sri Lanka remaining unbeaten to win the title.
After a poor start, the top seed, International Master Mitrabha Guha recovered well to be placed 2 nd with 7 points while International Master GB Harshawardhana became 3rd with 6 ½ points.
Fourth place went to India’s K Priyanka and Iran’s Anousha Mahdian tied for the 2 nd place with 6 ½ points, but Priyanka won the Silver Medal with a better tie breaker and Anousha had to be satisfied with the Bronze Medal. Anousha got a Women’s International Master Norm as well.
The Asian Junior Chess Championships 2021 which is conducted by the Asian Chess Federation is organized by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka.
A total of 54 players, 32 in Open and 22 in Women participating in this event The Awards Ceremony was held under the patronage of Luxman Wijesuriya, the President of CFSL and a Vice President of Asian Chess Federation and Hisham Al Taher, the General Secretary of Asian Chess Federation and Casto Abundo, the Executive Director of Asian Chess Federation delivered the speech virtually.