The 2nd Queens Chess Classic – International Rated Women’s Chess Championship 2026 was a celebration of the best women’s chess Sri Lanka has to offer, held at the Sports Pavilion, Ministry of Sports, Torrington Square, Colombo from February 27 to March 2, 2026. Organized by the Colombo District Chess Association on behalf of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, the event featured two FIDE-rated tournaments — a Classical Championship played over 9 rounds and a Blitz Championship played over 7 rounds — bringing together some of the strongest women players in the country for a memorable festival of chess.
The tournament was directed by IA Erosh Jayasinghe, with FA Washini Chamithri Surasinghe serving as Chief Arbiter, Lihini Athukorala as Deputy Chief Arbiter, and Hasini Nimesha Bandara as Arbiter. The Classical event was played under the standard FIDE time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds increment per move, while the Blitz was contested at 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment. Both events used the Swiss System format with full international rating calculation.
Classical Championship: Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera B Claims the Crown
The Classical Championship was the centrepiece of the entire Queens Chess Classic festival, and it produced chess of the highest quality across all 9 rounds. With an average field rating of 1489, the competition was fierce from the very first board, with several of Sri Lanka’s top-rated women players all in contention for the title throughout.
Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera B was the standout performer, claiming the Classical title with a superb 7.5 points from 9 rounds — the highest score in the entire tournament and a margin that left no doubt about her quality. Her campaign combined sharp opening preparation, precise calculation in the middlegame, and clean endgame technique across a demanding 9-round schedule. A particularly impressive run in the middle rounds, where she strung together several consecutive wins, effectively put the title beyond the reach of her rivals and announced her as the class of the field.
Senaree M I Gamaarachchi G A finished as runner-up with 7 points in an equally impressive campaign, winning her final round to cement second place and underline her standing among Sri Lanka’s elite women players. Third place went to M A D D D Munasinghe, also with 7 points on tie-break — a fine result from the third-ranked player that included victories over several higher-rated opponents along the way.
Chanthuli Thanishka De Silva B P scored 6.5 points for fourth place, matched by WFM Dahamdi K M Sanudula in fifth — the Blitz champion showing her Classical quality as well with a consistent 6.5-point campaign. Thinuli Disansa Wijesinghe, fresh from her Western Province Majors title just weeks earlier, continued her impressive 2026 form with 6.5 points in sixth, while M Tharushi Sandeepani, Chenaya Ekaratne, Senudhi Ahasya Jayasinghe J M, and Gehansa Ranumi Dange all scored 6.5 and 6 points respectively to complete a highly competitive top ten that showcased the remarkable depth of women’s chess in Sri Lanka.
Blitz Championship: WFM Dahamdi K M Sanudula Dominates the Sprint
The Blitz Championship on March 1 produced fast, exciting chess throughout its 7 rounds, with the time control of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment demanding quick thinking and sharp instincts from every player. WFM Dahamdi K M Sanudula was in a class of her own, finishing the Blitz with an outstanding 6.5 points from 7 rounds to claim the title convincingly. Her trademark aggressive style and rapid calculation proved perfectly suited to the Blitz format, and she was never seriously threatened at the top of the standings.
Senudhi Ahasya Jayasinghe J M was the closest challenger, finishing as Blitz runner-up with 6 points in a strong and consistent performance. M A D D D Munasinghe matched that score of 6 points to claim third on tie-break — making her one of only two players to finish in the top three of both the Classical and Blitz events, a remarkable feat of all-round competitive quality.
Chanthuli Thanishka De Silva B P finished fourth with 6 points, while Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera B — the Classical champion — scored 5.5 points for fifth in the Blitz, showing her quality across both time formats. M Tharushi Sandeepani and H Sandithi Kusalya Alwis both scored 5.5 points for sixth and seventh places respectively, while Senaree M I Gamaarachchi G A, S P Sanuli Yehansa Perera, and AFM J A K N T Indrajith rounded out the top ten with 5 points each — a competitive and entertaining Blitz event that served as a perfect finale to the two-day Classical championship.
The Colombo District Chess Association and the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka deserve great credit for staging yet another high-quality edition of the Queens Chess Classic. Tournament Director IA Erosh Jayasinghe and the full arbitration team — Chief Arbiter FA Washini Chamithri Surasinghe, Deputy Chief Arbiter Lihini Athukorala, and Arbiter Hasini Nimesha Bandara — ensured that both the Classical and Blitz events were conducted professionally and efficiently throughout.
Congratulations to all the champions, prize winners, and every participant who took part in the 2nd Queens Chess Classic 2026. This tournament continues to grow as one of the premier women’s chess events in Sri Lanka, and we look forward to an even bigger and stronger 3rd edition! ♟️👑
