The first ever CFSL Online Women Rapid Teams Chess Cup 2021 organized by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL) resumed its third level, the Division ‘A’. The semifinals and the finals will be held on January 24. All the games are conducted on Chess.com
Final category stage games were held on Sunday (17) with the participation of 40 chess queens of eight strong troops. They battled with each other to take their teams to the throne. Top four teams of the leaderboard advanced to the double knockout round.
Teams were paired under the round-robin method. In the first round, Ceylon Chathuranga Chess Club and Passed Pawn Chess were able to win the round against Castle Siege CC and Fisher CC Girls-B team with a gap of three points. Also, Chess Champs Academy and Mayor CC Women’s teams were able to win their rounds.
In the second round, the game of the board one was shared among Mayors CC Women and Ceylon Chaturanga CC. Meanwhile, Passed Pawn CC was able to protect their position in team standings after beating Sokains CC Women CC. Further, Chess Champs Academy and Fischer CC maintained their unbeaten status on their way to finals.
Most highlighted game in the round three was the game between Passed Pawn CC and Fischer CC Girls ‘A’ team. At the end of the round, Fischer CC Girls ‘A’ team was able to win the round with two points. Meanwhile, Fischer CC Girls Team ‘B’, Castle Siege CC and Chess Champs Academy were able to win the round against their opponents.
Passed Pawns CC was able to recover from their previous round setback to a certain level by stealing three points from Mayor CC Women’s team. Meanwhile, Chess Champs Arena climbed to the top of the rankings with their victory over strong Ceylon Chathuranga CC. Other two games of the round four were ended up in the favour of Fischer CC team A and B.
At the end of some nail-biting games, the result in the board four of the fifth round was equally shared among Chess Champs Academy and Passed Pawns CC. The same result was produced from the second board too. Meanwhile, Mayor CC women’s and Ceylon Chathuranga Club were able to wrap up the games of first and third boards without much difficulties.
After the play of round six, Chess Champs Academy, Passed Pawns CC and Fisher CC Girls ‘B’ team were able to reserve their seats in finals as Fischer CC Girls ‘A’ team was three match points behind from Fischer CC Girls ‘B’ team. If Mayor CC was able to win the seventh round, they would be able to go to the final. If not, the Fischer CC Girls ‘A’ team will get the ticket to final.
At the end of the day the leaderboard showed Chess Champs Academy, Passed Pawns CC, Fisher CC Girls ‘B’ team and Fisher CC Girls ‘A’ team book their berths in the final.
The Semifinals and Finals will be live streamed with commentaries by two most experienced past National champions, Dulan Edirisinghe and Newly elected FIDE Trainer, Rajeendra Kalugampitiya. The link will be shared soon.
Following are the final category stage winners:
Champions - Passed Pawns Chess Club ‘A’ (Dasuni Hansika Mendis, Sachini Ransinghe, G. P. Y. Wijesuriya, M. Tharushi Sandeepani, Gulmira Dauletova)
First runner-up - Fischer Chess Club Girls ‘B’ team (Rumethma Thennakoon, Manisha Suchini Gunarathne, W. M. M. N. Wijesinghe, Chanethma Devangi Marasinghe, Chamodya Yapa Bandara)
2nd runner-up - Chess Champs Academy (Dinushki Premanath, C.T. Koswatte, Zainab Saumy, Isha Sharma, Presana Premanath)
3rd runner-up - Fischer Chess Club ‘A’ Team: (Nelunika Methmani (WIM), Tharushi Niklesha, Ashvini Pavalachandran, Esha Pallie, Sharma -WIM- India). (YK)
