Sri Lanka’s exciting new Junior National Chess Championship series made its North Central Province debut from March 6 to 8, 2026, as the province’s brightest Under-20 chess talent gathered for three days of intense FIDE-rated competition. Played over seven rounds under the Swiss System format with a time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds increment per move, this provincial selection event represents a landmark addition to Sri Lanka’s junior chess calendar — a dedicated national pathway exclusively for Under-20 players, designed to identify and elevate the country’s next generation of chess stars.
The Junior National Chess Championship series is a new and significant development in Sri Lankan chess, providing Under-20 players with their own dedicated provincial selection competition. The top performers from each province’s selection event qualify to represent their province at the national stage, making every round of the provincial tournament critically important. Chief Arbiter FA R P D R Thilakarathne oversaw both the Open and Women’s sections throughout the event.
Open Section — Muthunayaka Claims the Crown
Aken Kethwith Muthunayaka delivered a composed and commanding performance across all seven rounds to emerge as the North Central Province Junior National Open champion with 6 points. Never losing a game throughout the entire event, Muthunayaka’s disciplined and mature chess belied his young age — a worthy provincial champion who will carry North Central Province’s hopes onto the national stage.
The battle for the remaining podium places was fiercely contested, with four players all finishing on 5.5 points. K A Mahima Nivisara Tewnim claimed second place on tie-break with 5.5 points, showing tremendous consistency throughout the seven rounds. ACM Loshitha Gimhan Gaudar, the highest-rated player in the field at 1585, took third place also on 5.5 points — a strong campaign from the top seed who pushed all the way. ACM E M Methuka Tharuk Ekanayake and ACM Yasiru Mallawa both finished with 5.5 points for fourth and fifth places respectively, underlining the remarkable depth of talent in North Central Province’s Under-20 generation.
Further strong performances came from J S Sithum Jayamanna and ACM A M Vidula Nethsithu Abeysinghe, both finishing with 5 points, while ACM Pasindu Nethum Munasinghe, Hemakisandu Deemith Jayawardhana, and S Mihindu Bandara rounded out the top ten — all with 5 points in a highly competitive field from top to bottom.
Women’s Section — Pathirana Shines Brightest
The Women’s section produced an equally compelling contest, with ACM Nethumi Anudini Pathirana delivering a near-flawless campaign to claim the North Central Province Junior National Women’s title with an outstanding 6.5 points from seven rounds. Pathirana’s consistent and assured play throughout the event made her a worthy champion and a Chess Queen to watch as Sri Lanka’s junior women’s chess continues to grow.
S Shakya Bandara pushed all the way to the final round and finished a strong runner-up with 6 points — an excellent result that demonstrated her quality throughout the competition. Third place went to Ajanya Methumsa Baminiwaththa with 5.5 points, followed closely by ACM W G Tinudi Sasathma Jayarathna, ACM R P N D Thilakarathne, and B N T Jayawardhana — all finishing with 5.5 points and showing the remarkable strength in depth of the Women’s field. ACM B U G S N Amarasinghe, K G S N Gamage, A A M Peiris, and Sithuki Adeesha Weththasingha completed the top ten in an impressive Women’s section that bodes very well for the future of junior women’s chess in North Central Province.
Congratulations to all the young champions and participants of the Junior National Chess Championship 2026 — North Central Province. The future of Sri Lankan chess is in very capable hands, and we look forward to seeing these talented young players carry the province’s flag proudly onto the national stage. Keep playing, keep improving, and keep dreaming big! ♟️🇱🇰
