Three students from the Gateway Group of Colleges have won multiple individual and team medals at the inaugural Commonwealth Schools Chess Championship, held from October 4 to 12 at the CitiTel Hotel in Mid Valley City, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The championship was organized by the Malaysian Chess Federation and the Kuala Lumpur Chess Association under the auspices of the Commonwealth Chess Association and FIDE, featuring players competing across odd numbered age categories from Commonwealth nations.

Losara Methyuga Kulatunge of Gateway College Colombo competed in the Under-15 Boys category, securing a silver medal in the individual standard event alongside bronze medals in both the individual rapid and blitz events. He further contributed to Sri Lanka’s success by capturing team gold medals in blitz and rapid, as well as a team bronze in standard. Having achieved a FIDE rating above 2000 earlier this year, Losara has also been selected to represent Sri Lanka in the Under-15 category at the upcoming FIDE World Youth Chess Championship in Roquetas de Mar, Spain, following a third-place finish in the Under-15 Open category at the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka selection tournament.

Yeshan Randiv Perera of Gateway College Kandy played in the Under-11 Boys category and finished joint second in the individual rapid event. He was also a proud member of the Sri Lankan Under-11 team that clinched the gold medal in the team rapid event. Yeshan holds the FIDE Online Arena title of Arena FIDE Master and maintains a FIDE rating of 1683.

Meleesha Thennakoon of Gateway College Negombo competed in the Under-9 Girls category and earned an individual bronze medal in the blitz event by finishing in third place. She also added three team medals to Sri Lanka’s tally, securing silver medals in both the blitz and standard team events, alongside a bronze in the rapid team event. Meleesha currently holds a FIDE rating of 1503. (Eduwire)