I always believed that to improve Chess among
visually impaired Chess players is to give them an opportunity to play with
regular vision Chess players in their tournaments. The message I send to Mr. Dulan
Edirisingha, one of the administrators of the Facebook group www.chesslife.lk was published on the group and one of the
organizers of the Negambo Chess Festival 2017
Mr. Malon Fenando gave an opportunity for visually impaired Chess
players to participate in the 3rd Negambo Chess Festival 2017 Chess
Championship.
The event was held from the 20th of
August to 24th of August. More than 500 players participated in this
tournament. Four visually impaired Chess players including myself were invited
for this tournament. But other three players couldn’t participate in the
tournament due to various reasons. I didn’t want to miss this golden
opportunity.
I didn’t have big expectations for this
tournament. I just wanted to participate and to get a good experience. I was so
excited and happy to become the first visually impaired Chess player in Sri
Lanka to play in a such a big event. I was really satisfied the way I played in
the tournament. I got 5 points out of 10 rounds. The experience I got by
playing with regular vision Chess players was so precious for me. Everyone was
so friendly and helpful. I played my games on a special Chess board designed
for visually impaired players, it was a new experience for other Chess players
to play a game with me.
Since 2014 I am looking for a Chess trainer. It
is a challenging task for a trainer because most of the Chess lessons are
designed in visual form. But now with the latest technology we can read printed
documents, notes etc. My goal is to be the Asian visually impaired Chess
Champion in the next IBCA Asian Chess Championship. If I get the proper
training and guidance I believe I can achieve my goal.
I would like to thank the organizers of the 3rd
Negambo Chess festival, for giving me an opportunity to play in the tournament.
All the arbiters for carrying out the games I played according to the rules for
a visually impaired player vs regular vision player and for all the other
players for their support. I would like to congratulate Nanayakkara J A K
Saranath for winning the chess tournament!
Finally I would like to share a game that I played
in the tournament, which I enjoyed the most. I’m playing White.
1.e4, d5
2.exd5, Qxd5
3.Nc3, Qa5
4.Nf3, Bf4
5.d4, Nf6
6.Bd3, Bxd3
7.Qxd3, h6
8.O-O, e6
9.a3, c6
10.b4, Bxb4
11.axb4, Qxa1
12.Bxh6, Qxf1+
13.Kxf1, Rxh6
14.Ne4, Nxe4
15.Qxe4, Na6
16.b5, f5
17.Qe5, Nb4
18.Qxg7, Rxh2
19.Ne5, Rh1+
20.Ke2, Re1+
21.Kxe1, Nxc2+
22.Kd2, Nxd4
23.Qf7+, Kd8
24.Qd7#
