The SLIIT Malabe Campus buzzed with competitive energy on 4th May 2026 as some of Sri Lanka’s brightest young chess minds gathered to contest the 9th SLIIT Castle Fest Rapid Chess Championship. Organised by the SLIIT Chess Club under the banner of Sri Lanka Chess (SRI), the annual event has grown into one of the most anticipated fixtures on the university chess calendar — and the 2026 edition lived up to every expectation.
Held entirely within the vibrant Malabe campus, the tournament featured both Men’s and Women’s Rapid team events, each contested over five rounds of Swiss-System team play. With a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment from move one, every game demanded both precision and composure under pressure.
The entire event was steered with professionalism by Tournament Director Mr Suresh Rathnayake of the SLIIT Sports Council. FA Sachila Wickramathilake served as Chief Arbiter, supported by Deputy Chief Arbiter NA Kalana Sachintha Dissanayake and Arbiter DA Rajakaruna, ensuring all rounds ran smoothly and fairly.
Men’s Rapid — A Three-Way Thriller Settled on Tiebreaks
If you wanted drama, the Men’s Rapid delivered it in full. When the dust settled after five intense rounds, three teams — SLIIT Campus Team A, NSBM Green University, and KDU — had all finished locked on 8 match points each. It was one of those rare, spine-tingling finishes where the final standings came down entirely to tiebreak calculations.
SLIIT Campus Team A took the gold with a superior tiebreak score of 20.5, their consistent board performances across all five rounds proving just enough to separate them from the chasing pack. NSBM Green University, representing one of Sri Lanka’s premier private universities, had every reason to feel proud of their silver-medal finish with a tiebreak of 19.0 — having pushed SLIIT all the way. KDU, the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, rounded out the podium with 18.5 tiebreak points, their military discipline and tactical grit evident throughout the competition.
With all three teams finishing on equal match points, there was barely a hair’s breadth between the champions and the runners-up. It was the kind of finish that reminds us exactly why chess is called the sport of kings.
Women’s Rapid — SLIIT Campus Team A Sets the Standard
The Women’s Rapid section unfolded with a touch more clarity at the top, though the competition was no less fierce. SLIIT Campus Team A stormed through the event with a commanding 10 match points, their performances across all five rounds reflecting both depth and determination. With a tiebreak score of 24.5, they were truly in a class of their own on the day, and their dominance from round to round made a strong statement about the quality of chess being nurtured within SLIIT.
KDU’s women’s team put in a spirited performance to claim the silver medal with 7 match points and a tiebreak of 20.0, showing the kind of resilience and fighting spirit that has become a hallmark of KDU at chess events around the country. It was a well-deserved second-place finish that will give the team plenty of confidence heading into future competitions.
Completing the podium in a touching home ground moment, SLIIT Campus Team B claimed the bronze medal with 6 match points. For a second SLIIT team to finish on the podium speaks volumes about the depth of chess talent that the SLIIT Chess Club has been cultivating, and it made for a joyful double celebration for the host institution.
A Festival Worth Celebrating
The Castle Fest has always been more than just a chess tournament — it is a celebration of university chess culture in Sri Lanka, and the 9th edition upheld that tradition beautifully. The atmosphere at SLIIT Malabe was filled with the kind of focus, camaraderie, and competitive spirit that makes university chess so special. Students from across different campuses came together not just to compete, but to share a passion for the game.
With four categories in total — Men’s Rapid, Women’s Rapid, Men’s Blitz, and Women’s Blitz — the Castle Fest offered something for every chess enthusiast, and the event once again served as a meaningful platform for young players to test themselves in a competitive team environment.
A warm and heartfelt congratulations goes out to all the winning teams — SLIIT Campus Team A on their Men’s and Women’s Rapid double, NSBM Green University, KDU, and SLIIT Campus Team B — as well as to every player, captain, and supporter who made the day what it was. Special thanks to the SLIIT Chess Club, the SLIIT Sports Council, the officiating team, and all the volunteers whose hard work made the 9th Castle Fest a resounding success.
Until the 10th edition — keep moving your pieces! ♟️
