Dahamdi Leads the Charge at Sri Lanka Women’s National Chess Championship 2026 — A Rivalry Renewed, a Title in Sight
There are chess tournaments, and then there are chess stories. The Sri Lanka Women’s National Chess Championship 2026 is shaping up to be very much the latter — a compelling, tension-filled drama set across thirteen rounds of the country’s most prestigious women’s chess event.
Organised by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka and held at the Police Families Welfare Association, the 2026 edition got underway on April 18 and runs through to April 27. Fourteen of Sri Lanka’s finest women chess players are competing in a full Round Robin format — the most demanding and fairest test in competitive chess — where every player faces every other player once across thirteen decisive rounds. The standard time control of 90 minutes with a 30-second increment from move one ensures that every game is a deep, serious battle of minds. The tournament is rated internationally, adding an extra layer of significance to each result. Overseeing all official matters are Tournament Director IA Erosh Jayasinghe, Chief Arbiter IA G. Luxman Wijesuriya, and Deputy Chief Arbiter FA Chathuranga Buddhika.
The Rivalry That Defines This Championship
To fully appreciate what is unfolding on the boards, one must revisit July 2025. At that year’s Sri Lanka Women’s National Chess Championship, WFM Dahamdi Sanudula and WFM Esandi Newansa played thirteen rounds of extraordinary chess and finished level on 10.5 points apiece — a tie at the very summit. When tiebreak calculations were applied, it was Esandi Newansa who was crowned champion, and Dahamdi who was left as runner-up — denied the title by the thinnest of margins. It was the kind of result that stays with a player.
Fast forward to 2026, and both women are back at the board, competing once more for the same crown. But this time, the narrative has shifted dramatically.
Dahamdi Storms Into a Commanding Lead
After ten rounds of the 2026 championship, WFM Dahamdi Sanudula has established herself as the player to beat — and by some distance. With 8.5 points from ten games, she sits clear at the top of the standings, playing with the poise and consistency of someone who knows exactly what this title means to her. Her score reflects a near-flawless run through the first three-quarters of the event, and with three rounds still to play, she holds a 1.5-point advantage over her nearest rival.
In second place is the impressive Sandithi Kusalya Alwis, who has put together a wonderful campaign with 7 points and is firmly in contention for a podium finish — and perhaps more, if results break her way in the final stretch. Alwis has been one of the stories of the tournament, performing well above expectation and proving she belongs among Sri Lanka’s elite.
Third place is shared on 6.5 points by defending champion WFM Esandi Newansa and Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera, though Newansa holds the stronger tiebreak position. For the reigning champion, the mathematics of the final three rounds are challenging — she would need a perfect finish and hope that Dahamdi stumbles — but in chess, as everyone knows, nothing is ever guaranteed until the final handshake.
The Battle Beyond the Podium
Further down the standings, the competition has been equally fierce. WFM Sethumlee Devhara Palliyage and Munasinghe are both on 6 points, keeping the fight for top honours extremely competitive in the mid-table. Sayumi Sithumila Halangoda and Chanthuli Thanishka De Silva are locked together on 5.5 points, each capable of finishing strongly in the final rounds.
With 14 players navigating a full Round Robin, every game in this final phase carries enormous implications — not just for the championship title, but for national rankings and international rating points that can shape careers.
Three Rounds Left — A Crown to Claim
As the championship enters its final phase, the tension in the playing hall at the Police Families Welfare Association is palpable. Dahamdi Sanudula is the clear favourite, but this is a Round Robin — every opponent remains, and every round matters. Will she finally claim the title that narrowly eluded her last year? Or will defending champion Esandi Newansa summon something extraordinary in the closing stages?
Sri Lankan chess fans have three more rounds to find out.
Congratulations to all fourteen players for their commitment and fighting spirit throughout this championship. A special word of appreciation goes to the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka for organising yet another high-quality national championship, and to the officials — IA Erosh Jayasinghe, IA G. Luxman Wijesuriya, and FA Chathuranga Buddhika — for ensuring the event runs smoothly and fairly. Whatever the final results, this championship has already delivered the kind of chess that makes Sri Lanka proud.
