The 9th Kalutara Chess Festival Open International Rating Chess Championship which was organized by the Kalutara District Chess Association on behalf of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka Asian Chess Federation and Fide, was held from 20th to 24th January 2023, at the Hotel River View Banquet & Resort Thalpitiya, Panadura, Sri Lanka.
The final matches were held on Tuesday (24th January 2023), in which the KDU Chess Team showcased their talents and eventually brought honour to KDU by bagging the Champion Team Trophy for Higher Education Sector. The Champion Team Trophy for Higher Education Sector was awarded by Chief Guest Mr. Luxman Wijesooriya, the incumbent General Secretary of the South Asian Chess Council and the Commonwealth Chess Association, Vice President of the Asian Chess Federation, and the President of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL).
Officer Cadet NWAGN Nanayakkara (Captain of KDU Chess Team), Officer Cadet MHNA Dayananada, Officer Cadet SA Nagahawaththe, Day Scholar RN Askey, Day Scholar RAMB Ranasinghe, Day Scholar N Shariffdenn represented KDU Chess Team in this Tournament.
The Kalutara Chess Festival Open International Rating Chess Championship provided the KDU Chess Team the opportunity to contest at the international level and set higher standards of sportsmanship and discipline. They competed with players all over the country and around the world and secured the Champion Team Trophy for Higher Education Sector.