Senuka, Dimuth win first semis after leading their groups

Sri Lanka Youth Chess Grand Prix 2020

Favourites Senuka Ahangama and Dimuth Indeepa Samaraweera secured victories in the first two games in the semi finals of the Inaugural Sri Lanka Youth Chess Grand Prix on Monday.

Samaraweera edged out Pesandu Liyanage and Ahangama beat Vinuda Gunathilaka in the first first semi-final held in the morning.

Samaraweera and Ahangama were the leaders at the end of the group stage and advanced to the semi finals as favourites. The second semi final involving the same players were in progress at the time this edition went to press.

In an outstanding performance Samarweera of D.S. Senanayake College secured eight points from the nine games he took part to lead group ‘Y’ of this Under-14 age category event. Samarweera remained unbeaten during the league stage, winning seven games and drawing against schoolmate Lalindu Sathmina in the fifth round and Vinsitha Weerasekara of Sussex College in the sixth round.

Ahangama also from DS Senanayake scored 6.5 points in nine games by scoring six wins and conceding a solitary defeat at the hands of J. Bhavanan of Hindu College, Jaffna. He drew with Disara Tennakoon of Dharmaraja College, S.D.B.K. Senevirathne of Maliyadeva College and Nabil Nazar Mohamed of Gateway College. Senuka became the Champion in the Group X.

Liyanage also from D.S. Senanayake College won the second place of Group ‘X’ with 6 points after winning his last game with Disara Thennakoon. Vinuda Shenal Gunathilake of Royal College was the runner up in the Group ‘Y’.

The Inaugural Sri Lanka Youth Chess Grand Prix 2020 started on August 7 and will conclude today with the finals at the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka Headquarters, Nugegoda.