Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka | May 8–10, 2026
The corridors of Sri Devananda College in Ambalangoda buzzed with nervous energy and quiet determination over three days in May as some of the Southern Province’s most talented young chess players took their seats for the National School Games 2026 – Southern Province Chess Championships. Organised under the banner of the Sri Lanka Chess Federation, the event brought together hundreds of young players across four age-category team events — Under 17 Boys, Under 17 Girls, Under 20 Boys, and Under 20 Girls — in what proved to be a memorable and hard-fought championship.
The event was organised by FA Ranjan Lasantha, with Mr. W A D J Sampath Jayasena serving as Tournament Director. The arbiting panel was led by Chief Arbiter NA N S Liyanage, supported ably by NA S S Gayashan De Silva, along with additional arbiters including Harsha Madushanka and others. Their professionalism ensured that every game was played in a fair and orderly environment from the first move to the last.
All four categories were conducted under a standard time control of 90 minutes with a 30-second increment per move from move one — a classical format that rewarded deep thinking, patience, and fighting spirit.
Under 17 Boys — Rahula College Reign Supreme
The Under 17 Boys category was contested as a 5-round Swiss team event, featuring schools from across the Southern Province. With an average player age of just 15 and an average rating of 1486, the competition was fierce from the very first round.
Rahula College from Matara entered the event as a side to watch, and they delivered on every expectation. Their campaign was one of authority and consistency — opening with a maximum 6-point haul against the field, securing a hard-fought 4.5 points in the third round against eventual third-place finishers Dharmasoka, and closing the tournament with 3.5 points against a challenging Dharmasoka team in the final round. Rahula finished on 10 match points, unbeaten across five rounds, and claimed the title as deserved Southern Province Under 17 Boys champions.
Richmond College from Galle put up a spirited fight throughout, winning their opening two rounds convincingly before engaging in a tense match-point battle with Rahula. They ultimately secured 8 match points for a well-earned silver medal finish.
The hosts, G/Dharmasoka College from Ambalangoda, were cheered on by their home crowd at every board. They collected a strong 6 match points to claim bronze, and the applause they received from the home faithful was a fitting reward for their grit.
Under 17 Girls — Sujatha Vidyalaya Delivers a Masterclass
The Under 17 Girls event unfolded as one of the most dominant performances of the entire championships. Sujatha Vidyalaya from Matara were simply relentless. They opened with a perfect 6 points, dropped just 2.5 in the second round, then roared back with 5 points, 4.5 points, and a commanding 6 points in the final round to finish on a flawless 10 match points — dropping barely a fraction of available game points along the way.
Their Tiebreak score of 25 game points told the full story of a team that gave no quarter throughout the tournament.
Sanghamitta Balika Vidyalaya from Galle performed with commendable resilience to secure 7 match points and the silver medal, showing particular strength in the closing rounds of the competition.
G/Dharmasoka College once again claimed a bronze medal position, ending with 6 match points and a tiebreak score of 20.5, completing a remarkable double podium finish for the Ambalangoda school across the two Under 17 categories.
Under 20 Boys — Dharmasoka Edge Past Mahinda in a Thriller
The Under 20 Boys tournament took a different format — a 3-round Round Robin — giving every team a direct clash with every other. With an average age of 18 and average ratings around 1462, these were the most experienced players of the championship, and the games reflected that maturity.
G/Dharmasoka College and Mahinda College from Galle ended the event locked together on 5 match points each — a nerve-wracking scenario that went down to the tiebreaker. Dharmasoka’s cumulative game points of 13.5 narrowly edged out Mahinda’s 13.0, making for one of the tightest finishes of the weekend. For the host school, it was a gold medal that will be savoured long after the boards are packed away.
Mahinda College, despite the heartbreak of the tiebreaker, walked away with silver and gave their supporters plenty to be proud of across all three rounds.
St. Aloysius’ College from Galle rounded out the podium with 9.5 game points, taking the bronze in what was a closely fought three-team contest.
Under 20 Girls — Dharmasoka Complete a Golden Double
If the Under 20 Boys result was a nail-biter, the Under 20 Girls division was an equally impressive statement from G/Dharmasoka College, who swept to gold with 4 match points and 8.5 game points from 3 rounds. Facing both Southlands College from Galle and Sujatha Vidyalaya from Matara, the Dharmasoka girls showed composure and class throughout, completing a stunning golden double for their school on home soil.
Southlands College claimed silver with 5.5 game points, while Sujatha Vidyalaya — champions just a day earlier in the Under 17 Girls — took bronze in this category with 4 game points, showing the incredible depth of talent at both institutions.
A Weekend to Remember
The National School Games 2026 – Southern Province Chess Championships was far more than a competition — it was a celebration of the depth of scholastic chess talent across the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Sri Devananda College in Ambalangoda proved a wonderful venue, and the work of the organising team, led by FA Ranjan Lasantha and Tournament Director Mr. W A D J Sampath Jayasena, ensured that the event ran smoothly and professionally throughout.
Chesssl.com extends warmest congratulations to the gold medalists — Rahula College, Sujatha Vidyalaya, and G/Dharmasoka College (double winners!) — and to every school, every player, and every official who made this championship possible. These young players are the future of Sri Lankan chess, and the battles played out in Ambalangoda this May are ones that will inspire the next generation of champions.
