The chess calendar for Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province delivered one of its most memorable days of the year on 7th May 2026, as K/M Pandiruppu Maha Vidyalayam in Kalmunai played host to the National Youth Rapid Chess Championship 2026 – Eastern Province. Organised by the Pro Knights Chess Academy on behalf of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, the event brought together the brightest young talents from across the region for a day-long festival of chess spanning eight age categories — Under 8, Under 10, Under 12, and Under 14, in both Open and Girls sections.
The tournament was conducted in the Swiss-System format across five rounds, with a rapid time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move from move one — a format that demands both quick thinking and sharp precision. NA Sakeer Ahamed served as both the Tournament Director and Chief Arbiter, while DA Rinoshan Kulasekaran ably performed the duties of Deputy Chief Arbiter and Pairing Arbiter, ensuring the event ran smoothly from start to finish.
The Open Sections
The Under 8 Open produced a thrilling finish as young Dasira Nethmina M claimed the top spot with an impressive 4.5 points from five rounds. Affath Arsh pushed hard throughout the day and ended on 4 points to secure the silver position, while Yuvan Arrun also finished on 4 points, claiming bronze on tiebreak. With all three podium finishers from Sri Lanka, the future of Eastern Province chess looks remarkably bright at this youngest level.
In the Under 10 Open, Mishal Umair A. delivered a dominant performance to win with 4 points, maintaining an unbeaten run through the early rounds. Aarizh Prageeth P showed tremendous fighting spirit to take second place with 3 points, with Kavinayan T rounding out the podium on 2.5 points. It is worth noting that this section’s results were recorded after four rounds with one round still pending at the time of data capture, making these results provisional.
The Under 12 Open produced the headline story of the day. Ahilash L was simply unstoppable, sweeping all five rounds for a perfect score of 5 out of 5 — an extraordinary achievement that demonstrated complete command over his opponents. Githmina Sasvidu M put in a remarkable performance of his own, finishing with 4.5 points to take second, while Ansif Ahamed R matched him with 4 points and claimed bronze on tiebreak. The gap between first and second tells the story of Ahilash’s dominance.
The Under 14 Open saw Ericalvin Kiruparaj emerge as champion with 4.5 points, dropping only half a point across five rounds to claim a well-deserved gold. Gopinash M was consistent throughout and finished with 4 points for the silver medal, while Sanjeth Vanthiathevan showed tremendous resilience to secure bronze on 3.5 points.
The Girls’ Sections
On the girls’ side, the competition was equally gripping. In the Under 8 Girls, Shasmeen Suhail turned in a brilliant display, finishing with 4.5 points to take gold. Azaayah Fatin A.A.R.A matched her energy with 4 points to claim silver, and Mohaxshana Thilakarajan — who recovered from a tough first round to win four consecutive games — took bronze with an identical 4 points, separated on tiebreak.
The Under 10 Girls section provided one of the most closely contested finishes of the entire championship. Both Sahansa Minuli W and Jasvikka Raku finished level on 4.5 points apiece, with Sahansa Minuli W taking gold on tiebreak in what must have been a nail-biting final calculation. Jasvikka Raku received the silver, and Bhavanthika Partheepan collected bronze with 3.5 points.
Echoing Ahilash’s feat in the Open, the Under 12 Girls section was dominated by Geshna Arunesan, who blazed through all five rounds without conceding a single point — another perfect 5 out of 5. It was a commanding, authoritative performance that left no room for doubt. Vysshnavi Ambigaipakan finished second with 4 points, and Arunika Suthakar also on 4 points claimed bronze on tiebreak.
The Under 14 Girls saw Naira Nehmathullah rise to the occasion and claim the gold with 4 points from four completed rounds. Shanali Hasamya Thathsari Gunase and Sanarthy S both finished on 3 points, with the silver and bronze positions decided on tiebreak.
A Day to Remember
What made this championship truly special was not just the quality of the chess, but the spirit of the young players who travelled to Kalmunai to compete. From seven-year-olds making their earliest tournament memories to thirteen-year-olds already showing the poise of seasoned competitors, the Eastern Province championship served as a powerful reminder that chess is thriving at the grassroots level in Sri Lanka.
Heartfelt congratulations go out to all the champions, the runners-up, and every single participant who took part in this wonderful event. A special word of appreciation to NA Sakeer Ahamed, DA Rinoshan Kulasekaran, and the entire Pro Knights Chess Academy team for organising such a well-run tournament that will no doubt inspire a generation of young chess players from the Eastern Province.
The chess journey for these young stars is only just beginning — and we can’t wait to see where it takes them.
