Susal takes gold and Oshini shines with silver

International Master Susal de Silva from Nalanda College emerged victorious as the undisputed champion in the Under-18 Open category to win the gold medal of the Asian Youth Chess Championship. The tournament, organized by the Asian Chess Federation under the guidance of the World Chess Federation, unfolded in the United Arab Emirates from December 14 to 21.

Facing stiff competition from 40 players, Susal de Silva dominated the field with a flawless performance, securing a perfect 7/7 points. His remarkable feat overshadowed the equally impressive performance of DI Zhang of China, who also scored 7/7 points but had to settle for the first runner-up position based on tie-breaks. The second runner-up position was claimed by FM Satbek Akhmedinov of Kazakhstan, who secured 6.5/7 points with a superior tie-break.

In the Under-12 Girls category, the promising young talent Oshini Gunawardhana from Wycherley International School fought hard among 57 participants. Despite a single loss in the 5th round, Gunawardhana’s

overall performance earned her the first runner-up position, clinching the silver medal with 7/9 points. The gold medal in this category went to Muziyan Gao of China, who scored an impressive 8.5/9 points. Mariya Kholyavko of Kazakhstan secured the bronze medal for the second runner-up place with 6.5/9 points.

The week-long tournament, featuring categories from Under-8 to Under-18 for both boys and girls, utilized a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one. Each championship adhered to a rigorous nine-round Swiss format.

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