The southern coastal city of Matara is preparing to welcome one of the most anticipated events on Sri Lanka’s chess calendar. The 4th Rahulians International Chess Festival 2026 will be held at the Chandiv Hotel, Kamburugamuwa, Matara, from 14th to 18th August 2026, with arrival on 13th August and departure on 19th August. With a total prize fund of 2.7 million LKR, this year’s edition is set to be the biggest and most exciting Rahulians festival yet.
Organised by the Rahula Old Boys Chess Association, Matara, in collaboration with the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, the Asian Chess Federation, and FIDE, the festival brings together three international-rated events under one roof — a Classical Championship, an Open Rapid event, and an Open Blitz event. All events will be played under the Swiss System and results will count toward FIDE rating calculations.
A True Category Event for Every Player
The Classical event will be conducted as a category event, thoughtfully divided into two rating groups so that every player gets to compete on a level playing field. Category A is reserved for players with a FIDE rating of 1700 and above, while Category B welcomes players rated 1699 and below, including all unrated players. Both categories will follow the same tournament schedule, and both will run over 10 rounds spread across five action-packed days.
The classical event features a time control of 90 minutes per player with a 30-second increment per move from move one. The Rapid event will be played at 10 minutes plus a 5-second increment, while the Blitz will run at a lightning-quick 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment.
Big Money on the Line
Prize money at this year’s festival is truly eye-catching. In the Category A Open section, the Champion takes home a magnificent 200,000 LKR, with the 1st Runner-Up receiving 150,000 LKR and the 2nd Runner-Up 100,000 LKR. Cash prizes extend all the way down to the top 20 finishers, ensuring that every strong performance is rewarded. The Category A Women’s section offers 100,000 LKR to the Champion, 75,000 LKR to the 1st Runner-Up, and 50,000 LKR to the 2nd Runner-Up.
Category B players are equally well looked after, with the Open Champion receiving 100,000 LKR and the Women’s Champion 50,000 LKR. Special prize categories for unrated players have also been introduced, giving newcomers to rated chess a beautiful opportunity to shine. On top of all this, there are dedicated age group prizes for Under 7, Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, and Under 15 in both Boys and Girls sections — a wonderful gesture toward nurturing the next generation of Sri Lankan chess talent.
The Rapid and Blitz events offer the same prize structure, with 50,000 LKR going to the Open Champion of each event, along with best women’s prizes, rating category prizes for players rated 1401 to 1700 and unrated, and age group awards.
Team Prizes and Sector Recognition
In a welcome touch, the festival also includes team prizes for the Mercantile, Government, and Higher Education sectors (over 18 years). Any organisation or institute that fields a minimum of three players — from either Category A or B, or a combination of both — is eligible to compete for these prestigious team honours.
Perks for Foreign Players
The organisers have gone above and beyond to make the festival welcoming to international participants. All foreign players will receive free transport from the airport to the hotel and back, while foreign players rated above 2300 ELO will be offered full-board accommodation on a double-sharing basis, subject to availability.
Title Players Play Free
In another player-friendly move, all Title Players (FM, WFM and above) and rated players above 2000 enjoy free entry to the Classical, Rapid, and Blitz events. Entry fees for other categories start from 6,000 LKR for rated players above 1700, with a special Early Bird discount of 500 LKR for anyone registering on or before 28th July 2026. The registration deadline is 10th August 2026.
An Event That Promises Memories
Beyond the prizes and the pairings, the Rahulians International Chess Festival has become a much-loved fixture on the local scene — a place where old friends reunite over the 64 squares, new rivalries are born, and the chess community of Sri Lanka comes together in a spirit of celebration. With three editions already gone down as memorable successes, the fourth promises to raise the bar even higher.
To every player young and old, titled and untitled, seasoned and just starting out — Matara awaits you this August. Get your entries in, sharpen your openings, and get ready for five unforgettable days of chess by the southern coast. Good luck to every participant, and heartfelt appreciation to the Rahula Old Boys Chess Association for once again giving Sri Lankan chess a stage worthy of its ambition.
