Sharan Rao wins a double at 2nd Rahulians International Chess Festival 2024
IM Sharan Rao scored an unbeaten 8.5/10 to win 2nd Rahulians International Chess Festival 2024. Two more players Vignesh B and FM Isuru Alahakoon (SRI) also scored 8.5/10 each. They secured second and third place according to tie-breaks. Vignesh also remained undefeated. The total prize fund of the tournament was LKR 1300000. The top three prizes in the Classical event were LKR 150000, 100000 and 75000 along with a trophy and medal each. For Blitz, the top three prizes were LKR 30000, 25000 and 20000 along with a trophy and medal each. This was Sharan's third and fourth tournament triumph of the year. He also won two more rating tournaments in June. Photo: Rahulians Chess Club
Sharan dominates the Blitz event with a perfect 9/9
Vignesh B was the sole leader 8/9 heading into the final round. Seven players including two IMs - Sharan Rao and Thilakarathne G M H (SRI) were trailing by a half point at 7.5/9 each. Vignesh drew with Thilakarathne. Sharan defeated A P Chenitha Sihas Dinsara Karunasena (SRI) to become the champion. Vignesh secured second place. FM Isuru Alahakoon (SRI) won against Osheen De Silva (SRI) to finish third.
IM Sharan Rao made a blazing start by winning eight games in-a-row in Blitz. He had a full point lead heading into the final round. Despite needing only a draw to become a clear champion, Sharan aimed for perfection. He defeated D W K Hettiarachchi (SRI) to win the tournament with a 100% score 9/9. Saniru Lohan Atulugamage (SRI) and Vignesh B scored victories over B Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera (SRI) and IM G M H Thilakarathne (SRI) respectively to score 8/9 each and finish at second and third place respectively.
A total of 444 players including two IMs took part from various places across Sri Lanka and six from India in this five-day ten-round Swiss League Rating Open tournament. The event was organized by Rahula Old Boys Chess Association at Grand Rockland Hotel in Matara, Sri Lanka from 14th to 18th June 2024. The time control of the event was 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.
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Final standings in Classical
| Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | sex | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | IM | Sharan, Rao | IND | 2403 | 8,5 | 0 | 68 | 71 | 7 | 49,5 | |||
| 2 | 3 | AGM | Vignesh, B | IND | 2227 | 8,5 | 0 | 66,5 | 71 | 7 | 51,5 | |||
| 3 | 7 | FM | Alahakoon, Isuru | SRI | 1926 | 8,5 | 0 | 59,5 | 62 | 8 | 44 | |||
| 4 | 2 | IM | Thilakarathne, G M H | SRI | 2356 | 8 | 0 | 66,5 | 72 | 6 | 49 | |||
| 5 | 10 | CM | Wijekoon, Chandana | SRI | 1796 | 8 | 0 | 64,5 | 70 | 6 | 48 | |||
| 6 | 16 | Madushanka, Harsha | SRI | 1772 | 8 | 0 | 62,5 | 66 | 7 | 46,5 | ||||
| 7 | 4 | CM | Haridas, Kesavan | IND | 2085 | 8 | 0 | 60,5 | 66 | 7 | 45 | |||
| 8 | 13 | Senarathne, A A H M B | SRI | 1777 | 8 | 0 | 60,5 | 65 | 7 | 47 | ||||
| 9 | 12 | Abiru, K A Aken | SRI | 1776 | 8 | 0 | 57,5 | 62 | 8 | 43 | ||||
| 10 | 8 | CM | Amarasinghe, A A C B | SRI | 1908 | 8 | 0 | 56 | 61 | 7 | 41 | |||
| 11 | 30 | Gunawardena, Ramiru Sithika | U15 | SRI | 1667 | 8 | 0 | 53,5 | 58 | 7 | 42,5 | |||
| 12 | 24 | AFM | Rathnayake, R M Dulinma Hemalni | F15 | w | SRI | 1716 | 7,5 | 0 | 61 | 65,5 | 7 | 44 | |
| 13 | 9 | Karunasena, A P Chenitha Sihas Dinsara | U09 | SRI | 1872 | 7,5 | 0 | 60,5 | 65,5 | 7 | 46,5 | |||
| 14 | 33 | ACM | Manuranga, D Lahiru | SRI | 1641 | 7,5 | 0 | 60 | 65 | 7 | 43,5 | |||
| 15 | 26 | Sandaruwan, K E Dineth | SRI | 1696 | 7,5 | 0 | 60 | 65 | 6 | 43,5 | ||||
| 16 | 41 | Sirimewan, K Hasareli | w | SRI | 1627 | 7,5 | 0 | 59 | 64 | 6 | 42,5 | |||
| 17 | 58 | Jithen, K A Chalinu | U13 | SRI | 1574 | 7,5 | 0 | 58 | 62,5 | 7 | 42,5 | |||
| 18 | 42 | Nimthaka, U J Nimuthu | U15 | SRI | 1617 | 7,5 | 0 | 58 | 62,5 | 7 | 42 | |||
| 19 | 20 | WCM | Jayaweera, Sayuni Gihansa | w | SRI | 1742 | 7,5 | 0 | 57,5 | 59,5 | 6 | 42 | ||
| 20 | 60 | Kithmina, W K Vihanga | U13 | SRI | 1571 | 7,5 | 0 | 56,5 | 59,5 | 6 | 41 |
A total of 306 players including two IMs took part from various places across Sri Lanka and six from India in this one-day nine-round Swiss League Blitz Rating Open tournament. The event was organized by Rahula Old Boys Chess Association at Grand Rockland Hotel in Matara, Sri Lanka on 16th June 2024. The time control of the event was 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment from move no.1.
Final standings in Blitz
| Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | sex | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | IM | Sharan, Rao | IND | 2233 | 9 | 0 | 53,5 | 57,5 | 9 | 45 | |||
| 2 | 38 | Atulugamage, Saniru Lohan | U15 | SRI | 1644 | 8 | 0 | 49 | 52 | 8 | 39 | |||
| 3 | 3 | AGM | Vignesh, B | IND | 2233 | 8 | 0 | 48,5 | 51,5 | 8 | 38 | |||
| 4 | 7 | Senarathne, A A H M B | SRI | 1874 | 8 | 0 | 45,5 | 50,5 | 8 | 38 | ||||
| 5 | 19 | Wijewickrama, Ayod Induwara | U15 | SRI | 1712 | 7,5 | 0,5 | 48,5 | 51 | 7 | 39 | |||
| 6 | 47 | AIM | Aarush, Bhat | U13 | IND | 1615 | 7,5 | 0,5 | 46,5 | 50,5 | 7 | 37 | ||
| 7 | 1 | IM | Thilakarathne, G M H | SRI | 2256 | 7 | 0 | 55 | 60 | 7 | 42 | |||
| 8 | 26 | Senanayake, Sekitha Rasula | U15 | SRI | 1677 | 7 | 0 | 51,5 | 55,5 | 7 | 40 | |||
| 9 | 22 | Perera, A A Senuth Thewsas | U09 | SRI | 1693 | 7 | 0 | 50 | 54 | 7 | 40 | |||
| 10 | 10 | CM | Amarasinghe, A A C B | SRI | 1819 | 7 | 0 | 50 | 54 | 7 | 36 | |||
| 11 | 23 | Kulatunge, Losara Methyuga | U13 | SRI | 1684 | 7 | 0 | 49,5 | 53,5 | 7 | 37 | |||
| 12 | 62 | Gunaweera, Geenuka Kavinu | SRI | 1571 | 7 | 0 | 47,5 | 51 | 7 | 37 | ||||
| 13 | 21 | Hettiarachchi, D W K | SRI | 1693 | 7 | 0 | 46,5 | 50,5 | 7 | 36 | ||||
| 14 | 128 | Jayasanka, Kulara | U15 | SRI | 1478 | 7 | 0 | 46 | 46,5 | 7 | 35 | |||
| 15 | 44 | Abayasinghe, Sehath | U11 | SRI | 1616 | 7 | 0 | 45,5 | 49 | 6 | 37 |