Oshini triumphs at Western Asia Youth Rapid Chess Championship
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Sri Lanka’s Oshini Devindya Gunawardhana emerged as the shining star in the Under-12 Girls category of the Western Asia Youth Rapid Chess Championship 2023, held in Kyrgyzstan. With her remarkable performance and flawless score, Oshini clinched the coveted gold medal, adding another glorious chapter to her chess journey.
The highly anticipated Western Asia Youth Chess Championship 2023 commenced in Kyrgyzstan on June 30, and it will continue until July 10. Organized by the Kyrgyzstan Chess Union on behalf of the Asian Chess Federation, this prestigious tournament features separate categories for different age groups, ranging from Under-6 to Under-18, in both Open and Girls divisions.
Running parallel to the main event, the Western Asia Rapid Youth Chess Championship took place on July 1. It was during this rapid chess extravaganza that Oshini Devindya Gunawardhana showcased her exceptional talent and determination. Competing in the Under-12 Girls category, Oshini’s brilliance on the chessboard was unmatched.
She delivered a perfect score of seven out of seven, securing the gold medal with grace and skill. Oshini, a student at Wycherley International School, began the tournament as the top seed and lived up to the expectations, dominating her opponents.
The battle for the first runner-up position was fiercely contested, with three players finishing with five out of seven points. In a superior tiebreak performance, Nurelina Tursunalieva of Kyrgyzstan claimed the silver medal, while Polina A. Smirnova, representing the event under the FIDE flag, secured the bronze medal.