Young chess talent from across the Kalutara district gathered at Ananda Sastralaya National School in Mathugama for the Sri Lanka National Youth Chess Championship 2026, a two-day event that crowned champions across ten separate age and gender categories, from Under-7 all the way to Under-15.
The championship was organized by the Kalutara District Chess Association with the approval of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, running from October 17 to 18, 2026. Tournament Director FA D M Madushan Sameera Dissanayake oversaw the event alongside Chief Arbiter IA Dayal Siriwardena and Deputy Chief Arbiter FA P Sumal Horawalavithana, with each of the ten age categories, Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15, split into separate Girls and Open sections. Every category was contested over six rounds of Swiss-system chess at a time control of 60 minutes with a 30-second increment per move.
In the Under-7 Girls category, K L Dehansa Nimsadee delivered a flawless performance, winning all six games to finish on a perfect 6 points. H Nethuli Ananya and G L Devli Dahamya both finished on 5 points to round out the podium. The Under-7 Open section saw Sahen Inuwara Horawalawithana edge out Gevin Yensitha Kavirathna on tiebreak after both finished on 5.5 points, with O A Rusiru Adithya taking bronze.
The Under-9 Girls title went the way of G Prabhakshi Ishansa Dewidunee Fernando, who also finished with a perfect 6 points, narrowly ahead of M B Suheli Methumsa Fernando on the same score, while S D Akeshi Dewanya claimed bronze. In the Under-9 Open category, K A Okindu Dulnitha swept to a perfect 6 points as well, with W Nugeeth Mandiw De Silva and A Basilu Avin Ranganath sharing the minor medals on 5.5 points apiece.
The Under-11 categories produced two of the tightest finishes of the championship. In the Girls section, M Janali Sasarindi, J K Yogya Imandhi Jayasooriya and Sanali Thenulya Waduge all finished level on 5.5 points, with Sasarindi taking gold on tiebreak. The Open section saw an equally dramatic finish, with D S Nadew Neathaka, Mahima Sahas Xavier Rebera and P A Yenul Seyhitha Seyhitha also finishing together on 5.5 points, Neathaka claiming the title on countback.
In the Under-13 Girls category, ACM K P Ranushi Gihansa Pathirana topped the standings on 5.5 points, just ahead of T A Vidushi Hansana and R A Chamshi Hiranya, who both finished on 5 points. The Under-13 Open title was won in commanding fashion by A Dineth Udan, who finished on a perfect 6 points, with Y A Chathupa Vethum Rathnasiri and M D Thenuja Ronal Gunathilake sharing silver and bronze on 5 points each.
Rounding out the championship, the Under-15 Girls category was won by D Manora Hansangi Dodangoda with a perfect 6 points, ahead of D D A Vihagi Nethmika Prabodhani on 5 points and K G Nishadi Hansani on 4 points. In the Under-15 Open section, K D Mindula Madew claimed the title on 5.5 points, with J A Chathum Hansitha and J K Pansilu Athukorala sharing the remaining podium places on 4.5 points apiece.
Across all ten categories, the championship showcased the strength and depth of youth chess in the Kalutara district, with several sections decided only on tiebreak after players finished the six rounds locked together at the top. The event continues to serve as an important building block for Sri Lanka’s young chess talent as they progress toward provincial and national competition.
A big congratulations to all ten champions, to every medalist across the Girls and Open categories, and to all the young players who competed with such spirit in Mathugama. The future of Sri Lankan chess looks bright.
