Maroons CC claim second National Team Chess title
Maroons Chess Club
After a strong fight among the top 14 teams, Maroons Chess Club successfully dominated the Sri Lanka National Team Chess Championship 2022, as they clinched the title for the second time. The Maroons CC, who played against the Black and Gold Chess Club in the final round, was able to score 5 points out of a possible 6 matches remarkably to secure the gold medal.
Maroons CC, which was formed in 2013, claimed their first national team victory in 2018 and four years later they made a major comeback to regain the title. Prior to the final round, the Jaffna Hindu College Team, who stood at the top position, lost the final round to the Kandyan Lions Chess Club. This enabled Kandyan Lions Chess Club to secure the silver medal. Fisher Chess Club and Mayor Chess Club were able to claim the third and fourth positions respectively.
The Sri Lanka Inter-Club Chess Championships, an annual event conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, was subsequently changed in 2022 as the Sri Lanka National Team Chess Championship.
The event commenced on the July 1 at Shastrananda Navodya Vidyalaya in Kawdana, Dehiwala and successfully concluded on July 3. The tournament comprised of a total of five rounds which were played with the standard time control. The team members of the Maroons CC consisted of K.D. Tharusha Madushan, Shehan Seneviratne, Thenuka Kuruwita, E.D.S. Chandula, Kokila Punchihewa, C.C. Weerasinghe, T.K. Uyanhewage and FM Sajith Peiris. The runners-up Kandyan Lions CC included K.A.P.M. Ariyawansa, C.L. Jayaweera, A.J.K.D. Bandara, Achinthya Kaluarachchi, Manushka Yatawala, Dhanushka Bandara, A.S. Galagamaarachchi and N.P.G. Sajith Lahiru. Fisher CC, who secured the third position, had Lisara Tennakoon, CM P.K.U.M. Jayasundara, Kashyapa Kulasekara, FM R.S. Kalugampitiya, Dishal Nimsara Weerasekara, IM Romesh Weerawardane, Bhanuka Neranjan Thawalampola and K.P.R.N. Samaranayake in the team.