Chess Club
The SLFS Chess Club is an integral part of our community, and it plays a pivotal role in the lives of our children. It not only provides them with a platform for social interaction but also serves as an avenue for intellectual growth and development. Chess, as a strategic game, has been proven to increase IQ, promote critical thinking, and enhance core math and verbal skills.
The SLFS chess club was started in 2017 by Roshan Perera and Ruchira Silva the coaches. Udayanthi Senayanaka helped in improving the status of the club. Then Prashanth Mistry took over the coaching position with Roshan Perera. Then Nipunna Koralage took over as coach for the chess club. Currently Anju Ukwatha is the coach with Kalhara Weeraman.
The Sri Lankan Friendship Society held tournaments from 2019 within the club. Awards are given to the top 3 placings in each group. The winner in the senior group becomes the club captain and this will be passed onto the next person in the following year.
Here are a list of club captains
- 2019- – Udula Bandara
- 2020- – Lasen Silva
- 2021- Senith Seresinhe
- 2022- Kalhara Weeraman
- 2023- Dinupa Yakupitiyage
- 2024-Ranuga Ekanayaka
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Our club has produced many players who represented their school in regional and national tournaments. Our club members have also represented NZ internationally when playing in Australia from winning the national chess tournaments.
Represented schools are :
- Hillcrest Normal School
- Berkley Normal Middle School
- Peachgrove Intermediate School
- Hamilton Boys High School
- Te Totara Primary School
- Hillcrest High School
Our members also won awards in Sarapu Cup, chess power tournaments, NZ chess federation tournaments. Here is a list of the players who have participated and won awards and certificates in these tournaments.
Danidu
Charuka
Esandi
Sethin Peris
And all our past club captains
The highest award for youth”Junior Master” title was awarded to Lasen Silva in 2023 and Ranuga Ekanayaka in 2024.
Over time our SLFS chess club started to grow in size with new students arriving each year. Tournaments are organised each year for the members in the club to test themselves.
The 2024 chess tournament results are as followed:
From the Junior Level
🥇 Dihen Dasanayaka – Winner
🥈 Sethin Peris – Runner-up
🥉 Ranuk Dissanayake – Third Place
From the Intermediate Level
🥇 S.T. Thenuk Hemsara – Winner
🥈 Charuka Kanil Weeraman – Runner-up
🥉 Hiruka Adeen Rathnayaka – Third Place
From the Senior Level
🥇 Ranuga Ekanayake – Winner
🥈 Kesarindra Kalhara Weeraman – Runner-up
The winners receive certificates and medals in their recognition for their achievements. These are important for the kids/chess players as it shows the hard work they have done to improve themselves each year.
Kalhara Weeraman
Contact Number: 0273823999
Club Membership
Terms and Conditions
Open to Grade 1 students (minimum 6 years old)
Parental consent required
Proper sports attire mandatory
- Time : Every Saturday, 2pm to 4pm
- Location : Hillcrest Normal School
