16 year old Chamika Perera of Trinity College Kandy has rewritten Sri Lanka chess history to become the youngest person ever to win the National Chess Championship. This event was held at the University of Moratuwa organized by the Sri Lanka Chess Federation and supported by the Ministry of Sports.
He obtained 9.5 points from 13 games to win the 2011 Title and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. The only points reduced were due to Draws. Stronger, experienced and older opponents were beaten by him in order to obtain the National Chess Champion title.
Final Rankings of the tournament after 13 rounds :
| Rk. | Name | FED | Intl. Rating | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | |
| 1 | Perera WCC | SRI | 2109 | Trinity College | 9.5 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 7 | |
| 2 | Anuruddha GC | SRI | 2139 | Sri Lanka Navy | 9.0 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 6 | |
| 3 | Kurukulasuriya Prasanna | SRI | 2084 | Sri Lanka Navy | 8.5 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 7 | |
| 4 | Kalugampitiya RS | SRI | 2135 | University of Peradeniya | 8.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 6 | |
| 5 | Alahakoon AMCB | SRI | 1883 | University of Moratuwa | 7.5 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 7 | |
| 6 | Wijekoon Chandana | SRI | 1993 | Sri Lanka Navy | 7.0 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 4 | |
| 7 | Lamawansa Yasas | SRI | 1902 | Trinity College | 7.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 6 | |
| 8 | Weerawardana R | SRI | 2165 | Paul Morphy CC | 6.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3 | |
| 9 | Jayasundara PKUM | SRI | 1980 | Nalanda College | 6.0 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 5 | |
| 10 | Koggala WSVK | SRI | 2027 | University of Moratuwa | 6.0 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 3 |
Chamika Perera also became the first Trinity College schoolboy to become the nation’s best chess player while still studying in College. Previously, Trinitians S. Abeysekera back in the 1980s and also R.T. Amarasinghe in 1999/2000 won the National Championship, but they had left college when they did so. It should also be noted that M.D.Y.N.Lamawansa, another extremely young talented Trinitian, placed 7th in the tournament this year.
Chamika also has participated in several international chess events including the Chess Olympiad in Khanty, Russia and the World Youth Chess Championship in Vietnam held in 2010, performing brilliantly while so. He has an international chess rating of 2109 E.L.O. He also is a talented swimmer, but has opted to concentrate more on Chess which he finds more absorbing and interesting.
WCC Perera Receiving the National Champion’s Trophy
His older brothers are also prominent Chess players. Lakshitha Perera and Malaka Perea both captained the Senior Trinity College Chess Team while they were schooling.
“Chamika Perera, who showed signs from the very onset, was determined that he would reach this height and today he is quite humbled to be adorned by this achievement which undoubtedly epitomises his traits as an exemplary sportsman,” stated the Trinity College Chess Master-in-Charge Palitha Senaratne.
Congratulations brother. Keep up the great work.
Article Written By Yashwanth Dahanayake
Sources : World Chess Federation, Tops.lk and The Island
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