Susal and Sanudula eye third place, Indians maintain dominance
G.B. Harshawardhana of India beat fellow Indian player Vardaan Nagpal to close the gap with 0.5 point with top player Rahul who is having seven points scheduled to compete with Iranian player Gholami Orimi at the final round.
Mitrabha Guha of India came back strongly by beating Indian International Master Shrihari Ragunandan in the eighth round to score six points to stay in third place. Sri Lankan skipper Ranindu Liyanage the National champion defeated fellow Sri Lankan player Brijesh Saravanabhavan having four points positioned at fifth place after the penultimate round.
Meanwhile Sri Lankan Sanudula Dahamdi had to make a strong game at eighth round against Indian International player Shri Savitha which ended in a draw sharing 0.5 each. Savitha and fellow Indian K. Priyanka both having 6.5 points each heading for the title. Savitha is scheduled to play against Sri Lankan Chanindi Attanayake at the final round yesterday while Priyaka also will meet Tharushi Niklesha in the final round . Sanudula Dahamdi who is in third place, will play Iranian Anousha Mahdian who is in fourth ranking after eight rounds and this game will decide bronze medal at this women’s event.The Asian Junior chess championship conducted by Chess Federation of Sri Lanka and it’s President Luxman Wijesuriya who also the Asian Vice President make good arrangements to conclude this event.
The winners in both categories Open and Women will receive a Grandmaster norm and International Master Title from the World Chess Federation. Even two tied players to top points will also be awarded International Master Titles. Otherwise the Silver and Bronze Medalists will receive International Master Norms. (D.R)