The Ravana Challenge begins in Grand Style
Monday, 14 September 2009 06:08
Source: FIDE.com
The Ravana International, the first grand Master Chess tournament of Sri Lanka started in a grand level at the Ceylon Continental Hotel today. 12 Grand masters, 1 women Grand master, 4 International Masters are participating among the 23 title players. All together there 15 Countries, USA, Germany, Macedonia, Armenia, Kazakhastan, Georgia, Belgium, Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, Iran, India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Sri Lanka are participating in this mega events. The organizer, the Blue and gold Chess Club, has offered a cash award of a 15,000 $ in this maiden grandmaster event of Sri Lanka.
A total of 75 players are playing in this event which was inagurated with Mr. Upali Gunasekera, Principal Royal College, the Vice President of CFSL as the Chief Guest. Mr. Duminda Rathnayake, CEO, TEGO, the Main Sponsor, Mr. R Anantharam, Chief Arbiter, Mr. Muditha Hettigama, the Chief Organizer and Mr. Malinda Seneviratne, the President, Blue and Gold chess Club was there at the Ceremony.
At the opening speach, Mr. Wijesuriya told to the participants that Chess has become a style among Sri Lankans and it is going to be more and more events in the future. He requested from all grandmasters to feel the Sri Lankan Hospitality and get the message to all friends and encorage them to play in Sri Lanka.
The first round went without big upsets. The event will continue till 19th of September 2009.
Luxman Wijesuriya
Honorary Secretary – CFSL
I see Nakamura’s Dad in the pic.
“I see Nakamura’s Dad in the pic.”
If by ‘Dad’ you mean step-father, then you are right.
i don’t think people should be playing in sri lanka when hundreds of thousands tamils are in camps suffering.
sri lanka has become arrogant regarding human rights.
Sri Lanka holds the future of chess in Asia. With so many dedicated organizers, headed by the best among the best – Luxman Wijesyriya, a simple, yet chess-loving man.