IM M.S. Thejkumar emerged as the sole leader with 8 points from eight rounds on the penultimate day of the Sri Lanka International Rating Chess Championship 2017 played at the YMBA Hall, Kunegala near Colombo yesterday.

In the eighth round, IM Thejkumar scored a convincing win over WFM Premanth Dinushki of Sri Lanka (Rating 1861) and in the seventh round he beat Mysuru lad and second seed Y.G. Vijayeendra (Rating 2116).

Y.G. Vijayeendra with 7 points from eight rounds is placed second in the ranking. In the eighth round Vijayeendra scored a good win over Madushanka WH Harsha of Sri Lanka. Theekshana H.G.D of Sri Lanka is in the third place with 7 points, while Rathnayake M.A.A.H of Sri Lanka is placed fourth with 6.5 points. Madushanka B.H. Harsha is placed fifth with 6.5 points.