WFM Dahamdi Sanudula Dominates to Claim Sri Lanka Women’s National Chess Championship 2026
Sri Lanka, April 2026 — In a tournament that celebrated the depth, talent, and fighting spirit of women’s chess across the island, WFM Dahamdi Sanudula emerged as Sri Lanka’s finest, claiming the Women’s National Chess Championship 2026 with a performance of rare authority. Thirteen rounds. Thirteen tests of skill, nerve, and endurance. And when it was all over, one name stood at the very top of the standings — and it was never really in doubt.
The Championship
Held under the banner of the Sri Lanka Chess Federation, the Sri Lanka Women’s National Chess Championship is the most prestigious individual title available to women players in the country. This year’s edition was contested as a Swiss system event over 13 rounds, bringing together talented players representing schools, universities, and clubs from across Sri Lanka. The competition featured a vibrant mix of youth and experience, with participants coming from Colombo, Nugegoda, Matara, and beyond — a true national gathering of the island’s finest women chess players.
Dahamdi Dominates
From the first round to the last, WFM Dahamdi Sanudula of NSBM Green University was simply in a class of her own. Finishing on a magnificent 10 points from 13 rounds, she outscored the entire field with a level of consistency that is the hallmark of a true champion. Sanudula, who carries the Women’s FIDE Master title, justified every bit of that distinction with chess that was precise, patient, and relentless. Representing one of Sri Lanka’s leading universities, her victory is a proud moment not just for herself, but for NSBM Green University and for women’s chess in the country. A score of 10 points in a 13-round national championship means winning nearly every game on the board — that is not fortune, that is mastery.
A Battle of Hearts for Silver and Bronze
While the gold medal race may have been settled with some comfort, the fight for the remaining podium spots went down to the wire in the most thrilling fashion. Sandithi Kusalya Alwis of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda and Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera of Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara both concluded the championship on 9 points — level on score, and virtually inseparable across multiple tiebreak criteria. Both players had fought incredibly hard across 13 rounds, demonstrating that the talent gap between Sri Lanka’s elite women players is razor-thin.
When the head-to-head tiebreak calculations were completed, it was Sandithi Kusalya Alwis who edged ahead to claim the silver medal, with Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera taking a well-deserved bronze. The fact that a player from Matara — representing Sujatha Vidyalaya from the Southern Province — pushed all the way to the national podium is a particularly uplifting story, and a reminder that outstanding chess is being played in every corner of this island.
A Championship That Means More Than a Trophy
Events like the Women’s National Chess Championship carry significance that goes beyond the final standings. They shine a spotlight on the growing strength of women’s chess in Sri Lanka, inspire younger girls to pick up the pieces, and celebrate the players who have devoted countless hours to mastering one of the world’s most demanding sports. This year’s championship, with its commanding winner and its electrifying battle for second and third place, delivered exactly the kind of inspiring narrative the game needs.
The Sri Lanka Chess Federation continues to provide a platform for the country’s women players to test themselves at the highest domestic level, and the quality of competition this year made clear that the future of women’s chess in Sri Lanka is in very good hands indeed.
Congratulations to All
A warm and wholehearted congratulations to WFM Dahamdi Sanudula on her outstanding championship victory — a title earned through brilliant chess from start to finish. Congratulations equally to Sandithi Kusalya Alwis on a superb silver medal and to Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera for her wonderful bronze-medal performance representing Matara on the national stage. And to every player who competed across these 13 rounds — your dedication, passion, and love for chess makes Sri Lankan women’s chess stronger every single year. Take a bow, all of you.
