Venukanan Nayanakeshan, an 8-year-old chess prodigy from Jaffna, clinched the title of National Champion at the Sri Lanka National Youth Chess Championship in the under-8 open category, qualifying for further international competitions and fuelling talk of potential global success.
The tournament, held at Dharmapala College in Colombo, featured 450 players from each district, with Nayanakeshan securing his place among the top ten.
The competition staged at Colombo's Ministry of Sports Pavilion, proved challenging as the top players faced off directly, but Nayanakashan showcased his prowess by scoring an impressive 8/9 points, earning him the prestigious National Champion title.
Nayanakeshan’s victory allows the young chess sensation to participate in international competitions in 2024. He now qualifies to participate in the Commonwealth Chess Championship, the World Cadet Championship in Albania, the World Youth Chess Championship in Brazil, and the Asian Youth Chess Championship in Kazakhstan. Additionally, he has secured a place in the upcoming West Asian Youth Chess Championship to be hosted in Sri Lanka.
Remarkably, Nayanakeshan holds the highest international ranking points (standard rating 1116) in his age group in Sri Lanka, underscoring his exceptional talent and dedication to the game.
The young chess sensation, currently a student at Hindu Primary School in Kokuvil, embarked on his chess journey at the age of 4. Over the past two years, Nayanakeshan has dominated his age category, in tournaments across the island.
Nayanakeshan's achievements underscore not only his exceptional talent but also the promising future that lies ahead as he continues to make waves in the world of chess.
