“The significance in Chess is that it’s a game for everybody: rich or poor, girl or boy, old or young. It’s a fantastic game which can unite people and generations! It’s a language which you’ll find people “speak” in every country.” – Judit Polgar

Chess, the King of games, as legends state, is known to be played by those who are of Royal blood. Living up to that statement it is the Royal College Chess club who are in the forefront in organizing school based Chess tournaments in Sri Lanka, having organized the Oldest Consecutive Chess tournament to be conducted by school students. The “Battle of the Kings” organized for the 19^th consecutive occasion is the All-island under 20 inter-school chess tournament organized by the Royal College Chess Club since 1996.

This year, the tournament which is to be recorded under the year 2014, was conducted on the 23^rd, 24^th & 25^th of January 2015 from 7.00am onwards at the College premises, with the participation of over 35 schools consisting over 250 chess players both boys and girls. The players who represented all parts of the island, were united for the lone goal of bringing glory to their alma mater, here at the heart of Colombo, at this historical battle; the battle of the Kings.

Kingdoms fall every day. The highlight of the 19^th Battle of the Kings was the breaking of streaks. The teams who were Champions for the past 2 years in both categories (boys’ & girls’), failed to make it to the top this time around, paving the way for two new schools to enter the limelight. At the end of the 3 day campaign, the chess team of Nalanda College emerged champions in the boys’ category breaking the 2 year streak of Dharmasoka College while the girls’ team of Dharmasoka College barred the Visakhians from achieving a Hat-trick.

The awarding ceremony of the tournament was held shortly after the conclusion of the last round, at dusk on Sunday the 25^th of January 2015, and the following teams were crowned Champions, 1^st Runners up and 2^nd Runners up under the two categories.

Boys

Girls

Going through past records, these schools were gallant Knights to conquer the Royal Crown at the past encounters of the Battle of the Kings.

Boys

Girls

With the awarding of the awards and certificates to the winners and participants, the proceedings of the 19^th Battle of the Kings tournament were officially concluded.

“If you wish to succeed, you must brave the risk of failure.” – Garry Kasparov