Chess: Haritha Hansan emerge winner of inaugural CFSL Online Youth U-12 Championship

Haritha Hansana from Denipitiya Primary School emerged champion at the inaugural CFSL Online Youth Under-12 Championship 2021 with the perfect score of 9 out of nine games. 

Hansana beat Krithik Koneshwaran, Methan Sritharan, Asini Gamage, S. Fairooz, B.A.M. Arachchi, Sithum Pahasara, Pamok Samaranayake, Sasula Pathirana and S.S.L.N. Dandeniya without much trouble to win the title. 

He is one of the strongest youth players in Sri Lanka who has won the National Youth Under-10 event in 2019 and has represented Sri Lanka at many international events and recorded victories.

Thehara Galagedara of Musaeus College won the silver medal with 8 points out of 9 games. 

She is also an outstanding player and had performed in an open event with 250 players earlier. 

Thehara is also one of the strongest youth girl players in the country. 

She won all games except against Dinith Perera in the second round.

Aloka Hettiarachchi of Nalanda College also scored 8 points out of 9 games to share the second place with Thehara, but had to satisfy with the bronze medal according to the tie-breaker. 

He was unbeaten throughout the event, recording two draws against Sethum Manuwaruna in the first round and against Ashad Mohammed in the seventh round. Aloka scored seven wins.

The CFSL Online Youth Under-12 Championship was also a remarkable event where a participation of more than 230 players from all over the country. 

The event was held in the Chess.com platform according to the Swiss System in 9 round. 

The time control was 15 minutes per player with a 10-second increment per each move played.

Due to the pandemic situation chess changed to online and now the all important events are conducted through internet. 

The CFSL started youth chess activities with the Sri Lanka Online Under-14 and continued to the Under-14 Girls event. 

Both events were held successfully with nearly 300 players in Open and 200 in Girls taking part.

The event was played with very strict Anti-Cheating guidelines, in accordance to the FIDE Laws. 

Only laptops were allowed to play the event while all players are observed through a 'zoom' meeting open throughout the play.