The under 14 Chess team of Sri Lanka will be competing at the Asian Nations Cup Under 14 Chess Team Championship which will be held in China from 5th to the 11th of November 2016.
The championship is organized by the Chinese Chess Association. Mr. R.M.M. Rathnayake, The principal of D.S. Senanayake College will accompany the team as the head of the delegation.
Of the 5 members of Team Sri Lanka, 4 players are quite experienced at the international stage, having won medals at Asian and International rating events.
The Team
- Harshana Thilakaratne (Captain) (Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala)
Winner of the World Schools’ under 11 Chess Championship in Brazil 2014, Harshana also won the Silver Medal at the Asian Schools’ Chess Championship under 13 category in 2015 in Singapore and a Bronze medal at the Commonwealth Under 14 Chess championship in Waskaduwa, Sri Lanka. He is the current the under 14 year National Chess and also played in the Sri Lanka National A in 2015 and 2016. He has won medals at the Asian and International Rating events and is one of the strongest players in Sri Lanka.
- Sasith Nipun Piyumantha (FIDE Master) (Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda)
Sasith is also one of the better players in Sri Lanka who was a Silver medalist at the National Youth Under 14 category. He won the gold medal at the Asian Schools’ Chess Championship under 12 category at Taiwan in 2014 and was awarded the title of FIDE Master by FIDE. Sasith played in the National A Chess championship in 2015.
- Kulisa Saranath Nanayakkara (Gateway International School, Negombo)
Kulisa is the current Schools’ Individual Champion of the under 13 category. He also has a lot of International exposure in Asian/ World School and Youth Events.
- Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage (Ananda College, Colombo)
Ranindu is the National Blitz and Rapid Chess champion in the under 14 age category.
- Lasal Jayawardena (Lyceum International School, Nugegoda)
Lasal is a fresher to the International stage and is looking to capitalize on this opportunity to make a name for himself and help his teammates win the title.
The team will leave the country on the 4th of November and ThePapare.com would like to wish the team all the very best for the tournament.
