There is something special about hosting a major chess championship on home soil — and Sri Lanka felt every bit of that magic during the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2026. Held at the elegant Hotel Citrus in Kalutara from May 17 to 25, the event brought together players from 15 nations across the Commonwealth for a week of fierce competition, national pride, and unforgettable chess.
Organised by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka under the FIDE flag, the championship featured a sprawling programme of events spanning Classical, Rapid, and Blitz formats — with categories ranging from Under-8 to Open, and separate sections for women in every age group. The Open events drew the highest attention, featuring some of the strongest players from India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, the Maldives, Scotland, Australia, Canada, Mauritius, and of course the host nation Sri Lanka.
Tournament Director IA Luxman G. Wijesuriya, Chief Arbiter IA Tharindu Weerasekara, and Deputy Chief Arbiter IA M. S. Gopakumar oversaw proceedings with a full team of experienced arbiters including IA Sanjeewa Anuradha handling fair play duties — ensuring the event met the highest FIDE standards throughout.
Classical Open: India’s Stars Reign, Sri Lanka’s Hero Stands Tall
The Classical Open was a nine-round Swiss System tournament played at a standard time control of 90 minutes with a 30-second increment from move one. With 96 players and an average rating of 1891, the field was competitive from top to bottom.
India’s GM Mitrabha Guha proved to be the class of the field. Playing with precision and composure across all nine rounds, he amassed 7.5 points to claim the gold medal — the only player to reach that score. His nearest challengers finished on 7 points, a full half-point behind.
The silver medal went to FM Sakline Mostafa Sajid of Bangladesh, whose 7-point haul was a remarkable result that underlined Bangladesh’s growing strength in Commonwealth chess. But it was the bronze medal that had the home crowd on their feet — Sri Lanka’s own IM Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage matched Sajid’s 7 points and claimed third place on tiebreak, delivering one of the most celebrated results in recent Sri Lankan chess history.
Sri Lanka’s medal story didn’t end there. FM Dishal Nimsara Weerasekara produced a stunning performance to finish 10th overall with 6 points, defeating significantly higher-rated opponents along the way. CM Vinuka Dihain Wijerathna added further colour to Sri Lanka’s campaign with a solid 6-point score and a top-15 finish, while WFM Esandi Newansa and CM Sivathanujan S. both impressed with strong showings in a field dominated by titled players.
Kenya’s Ezekiel Karani was arguably the surprise story of the Classical Open, finishing 11th with 6 points — a remarkable result for an unrated player that left many in the hall buzzing.
Rapid Open: GM Iniyan Pa Sprints to Gold
The Rapid Open, played over 7 rounds on May 18–19 at 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move, featured 84 players and produced a gripping finish. India’s GM Iniyan Pa — ranked seventh in the Classical event — came alive in rapid chess, storming through the field with 6.5 points to claim gold convincingly.
GM Srihari L. R. of India claimed silver with 6 points, while GM Mitrabha Guha took bronze with 5.5 — giving India a clean sweep of the top three in Rapid as well.
Sri Lanka had reason to celebrate here too. IM Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage again showed tremendous form, finishing 6th overall with 5 points — a top-10 result in a competitive Rapid field. CM Vinuka Dihain Wijerathna and FM Dishal Nimsara Weerasekara also featured prominently in the top-16, reinforcing the depth of Sri Lankan talent on display.
WIM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana made a notable appearance in the Rapid Open, finishing 26th — a promising showing from one of Sri Lanka’s leading women players.
Blitz Open: A Day of Fireworks in Kalutara
The Blitz Open on May 20 was pure entertainment. With 3 minutes per game and a 2-second increment, the seven-round Swiss event demanded quick thinking and nerves of steel. The 81-player field produced a dramatic conclusion at the very top.
GM Iniyan Pa and GM Rohith Krishna S. — both from India — finished level on 6.5 points, sharing the gold and silver honours between them. IM Ethan Vaz of India claimed bronze with 6 points, completing another Indian sweep of the Blitz podium.
Sri Lanka’s flag was carried proudly once more. CM Sivathanujan S. delivered an outstanding Blitz performance to finish 8th with 5 points, while WFM Dahamdi Sanudula and IM Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage also featured in the top 10 — showing that Sri Lankan players can compete at pace as well as at the classical board.
South Africa’s Ncethelo Bongolethu was the tournament’s biggest surprise in Blitz, finishing 11th with 5 points — a result that drew admiration from players and arbiters alike.
A Week to Remember
The 2026 Commonwealth Chess Championship was more than just results on a crosstable. It was a celebration of chess across the Commonwealth, hosted with warmth and professionalism by Sri Lanka. The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, the organising team, and the staff of Hotel Citrus deserve tremendous credit for running a smooth, well-attended event across multiple formats simultaneously.
Sri Lanka’s medal in the Classical Open — through IM Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage’s brilliant bronze — will be remembered as a landmark moment, while the depth of talent shown across all three events signals a bright future for chess on the island.
Congratulations to all the winners, medallists, and every single participant who competed with spirit and grace across the Standard, Rapid, and Blitz events. You made your nations proud, and you made Kalutara unforgettable.
