For five unforgettable days, the Chandiv Hotel in Matara became the epicentre of Sri Lankan chess as the Standard Championships of the 4th Rahulians International Chess Festival 2026 brought together an extraordinary field of players from across the island and beyond. Organized by the Rahula Old Boys Chess Association and split into two mighty divisions — Category A for the seasoned campaigners rated above 1700, and Category B for the vast, hungry chasing pack below it — the event ran from August 14 to 18 and stood as the crown jewel of the entire festival.
Both sections were played as nine-round Swiss-System tournaments at a classical time control, a true test of stamina, nerve and preparation. The scale was staggering: Category B alone drew well over 500 competitors, turning the playing hall into a sea of boards and quiet concentration, while the elite Category A gathered a powerful mix of Sri Lankan and Indian talent, including several titled players. The festival was steered by Tournament Director FI T N Alahakoon, with IA Tharindu Weerasekara serving as Chief Arbiter, supported by Deputy Chief Arbiter IA H N Chathuranga Gunasena and Pairings Arbiter IA D G D Chamil Thilakarathne.
The story of the festival was written in Category B, and it belonged to Dharan A. In a field of hundreds, he did what almost no one ever manages — he won every single game. Nine rounds, nine victories, a flawless 9/9 that never wobbled once across five gruelling days, earning him the champion’s title and the top prize of Rs. 100,000. Yet the section had a second hero, and hers is a story that will be told for years. Sanuli Yehansa Perera, one of the standout girls in a predominantly open field, powered her way to 8.5 points and finished runner-up overall, outperforming hundreds of rivals to claim second place and Rs. 75,000. R C Thihansith Perera took third on tiebreak, also on 8.5, with Senuja Kalmith Pasqual and Eranga Dinesh Kumara close behind.
If Category B was about sheer relentlessness, Category A was a heavyweight slugfest. Home favourite CM Sivathanujan rose above a genuinely international field to take the title with a commanding 8.5 points, holding off both strong Indian visitors and Sri Lanka’s finest. The battle for the podium behind him was ferocious, with three players locked on 7.5. It was FM Dishal Nimsara Weerasekara who edged into second — a fitting reward for the workhorse of the festival, who also finished among the medals in both the Rapid and Blitz events. Top seed CM Ashirwad Swain of India took the bronze on tiebreak, with compatriot Krishna N Leelajai agonisingly close in fourth, and India’s Sailesh R — himself a Rapid and Blitz medallist — rounding out the top five.
What made these championships so special was how deep the talent ran. Every age group crowned its own hero, from the tiny warriors of the Under-7 boards right up to the polished Under-15s, and the girls’ and women’s competitions were every bit as fierce. In Category A, Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera shone brightest among the women, while Category B saw ACM Eleesha Warnakulasuriya Fernando produce a superb 8 points to be crowned top woman of the division and pocket a handsome Rs. 50,000. The unrated sections gave newcomers their own stage to shine, and even the workplaces and universities joined the battle, with the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology leading the way in the Mercantile, Government and Higher Education sector competition.
Beyond the trophies and the prize money, the festival captured everything that makes chess special in Sri Lanka — the buzz of a packed hall, the friendly rivalry between local juniors and visiting internationals, and the sight of hundreds of young players discovering just how far focus and courage can take them. Set against Matara’s southern coast, the Rahulians Standard Championships were as much a celebration of the game as a competition.
Warmest congratulations to every champion, every medallist, and every one of the hundreds of players who fought for every point over these five remarkable days. To the winners, your brilliance shone through. To everyone who battled and fell just short, your day is coming. A heartfelt thank you to the Rahula Old Boys Chess Association, the arbiters and officials, and the families and supporters who made this magnificent festival possible.
🏆 ROLL OF HONOUR — CATEGORY CHAMPIONS
Category A (Above 1700)
Overall Champion: CM Sivathanujan S — 8.5
Women’s Champion: Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera — 6
Category B (Below 1700) — Overall
Champion: Dharan A — 9
Women’s Champion: ACM Eleesha Warnakulasuriya Fernando — 8
Category B — Age Group Champions
Under-7 Girls: Viduni Thesansa B Hewage — 4
Under-9 Girls: Meleesha Thennakoon T M S — 7
Under-11 Girls: Thinuli Sehansa Jayawardhane — 6
Under-13 Girls: Hasadi Sethumsa R B — 7.5
Under-15 Girls: Pumudi Hansadi R B — 7.5
Under-7 Boys: Sadew Theshan Fernando A — 6
Under-9 Boys: Himaru Vihas Rathnaweera R P — 7
Under-11 Boys: Hiruka Sandesh Ariyarathne M H — 8
Under-13 Boys: AFM Jalina Basuru Gunarathna U P A — 7.5
Under-15 Boys: Thenura Damsith Rathnayake R M — 7.5
Category B — Unrated Sections
Unrated Champion: Charith Udayanga S A — 6.5
Unrated Women’s Champion: Himesha Hansani D L — 6
Mercantile / Government & Higher Education Sector
Navy and SLIIT led the sector honours, with the University of the Visual & Performing Arts teams close behind.
