The National Youth Rapid Chess Championships 2026 – Galle District Selections provided a spectacular follow-up to the morning’s blitz action, as young players from across the Galle District settled in for the deeper, more strategic challenge of rapid chess on 3rd May 2026. Organised by the Galle District Chess Association, the event covered eight categories — Under 8, Under 10, Under 12, and Under 14, in both Open and Girls sections — each contested over five rounds in a Swiss system format. If the blitz championships were a sprint, the rapid was a marathon of the mind — and the results were nothing short of remarkable.
Under 8 Open — Daham Nethsara Does It Again
There are performances that demand a standing ovation, and Daham Nethsara Sampath delivered exactly that. Having already claimed the blitz title on tiebreak earlier in the day, he returned to the rapid section and left absolutely nothing to chance, sweeping all five rounds without a single dropped point to finish on a perfect 5 out of 5. It was a dominant, authoritative performance that announced him as the standout player of the entire championship day. Imeth Mandive and Puljaan Panthuja both finished on 4 points, with Imeth claiming silver on tiebreak in a close battle for second place.
🥇 Daham Nethsara Sampath — 5 points 🥈 Imeth Mandive — 4 points 🥉 Puljaan Panthuja — 4 points
Under 8 Girls — Liyana Januli’s Flawless Five
The Under 8 Girls rapid section produced yet another perfect score, as Liyana Januli De Silva marched through all five rounds unbeaten to claim the gold medal with a stunning 5 out of 5. Her composure across the board was a delight to witness in a player so young. Sethumdi Seyara and Nethya Jayawickrama both finished on 4 points, with Sethumdi taking the silver on tiebreak after a strong showing throughout the event.
🥇 Liyana Januli De Silva — 5 points 🥈 Sethumdi Seyara — 4 points 🥉 Nethya Jayawickrama — 4 points
Under 10 Open — Senuk Randidu Stays Ahead
The Under 10 Open was a tight and exciting contest from start to finish. Senuk Randidu De Silva made a shaky start, drawing his very first round, but rallied brilliantly to win the next four games and finish on 4.5 points — enough to claim the district title. Yesandu Bimsara and Sithija Damsara Wijesinghe both finished on 4 points, with Bimsara earning silver on tiebreak. The category was a compelling illustration of how crucial recovery and resilience are in rapid chess.
🥇 Senuk Randidu De Silva — 4.5 points 🥈 Yesandu Bimsara — 4 points 🥉 Sithija Damsara Wijesinghe — 4 points
Under 10 Girls — Fathima Ashka’s Stunning Turnaround
The narrative of the Under 10 Girls rapid category is one of the best stories of the entire championship. Fathima Ashka had finished as runner-up in the blitz section earlier in the day, just behind Dewmi Anuththara. In the rapid, she came back with a point to prove — and proved it magnificently, winning all five games to claim a perfect 5 out of 5 and the gold medal. It was a superb redemption story and a reminder of how much depth exists in this age group. Senuli Ruvithma Nagodavithana came second with 4 points, while blitz champion Dewmi Anuththara completed the podium also on 4 points, with Nagodavithana taking silver on tiebreak.
🥇 Fathima Ashka — 5 points 🥈 Senuli Ruvithma Nagodavithana — 4 points 🥉 Dewmi Anuththara — 4 points
Under 12 Open — Keebihetti Edges a Tense Battle
The Under 12 Open was perhaps the most closely contested category of the day. Vikum Hasaraga Keebihetti and Chamindu Udara finished level on 4 points each, and it took the tiebreak system to separate them. Keebihetti was awarded gold while Udara took silver in what was a dramatic conclusion to a category where the lead changed hands multiple times. Hasath Devnuda Wickramarathne came in third with a solid 3.5 points, having beaten both top finishers at different stages of the tournament.
🥇 Vikum Hasaraga Keebihetti — 4 points 🥈 Chamindu Udara — 4 points 🥉 Hasath Devnuda Wickramarathne — 3.5 points
Under 12 Girls — Deyoni Binulya’s Dominant Display
Just as in the open categories, the Under 12 Girls rapid section produced a champion who left no room for doubt. Deyoni Binulya Edirisinghe swept all five rounds to finish on a perfect 5 out of 5 — the fourth such performance of the day — in what was an authoritative display of rapid chess. Chathuni Kaveesha Dewduni, who had taken bronze in the blitz, stepped up to claim silver here with 4 points. Sanuli Hesanya Weerasuriya, the blitz champion in this category, rallied to take bronze with 3 points after a tough day at the board.
🥇 Deyoni Binulya Edirisinghe — 5 points 🥈 Chathuni Kaveesha Dewduni — 4 points 🥉 Sanuli Hesanya Weerasuriya — 3 points
Under 14 Open — Samarawickrama and Lisara in a Dead Heat
The oldest open category in the rapid produced a marvellous contest between Sadil Yashmitha Samarawickrama and Keshan Kavindu Lisara, who both finished on exactly 4 points after five rounds of high-quality chess. When the tiebreak calculations were done, Samarawickrama was awarded the gold medal, with Lisara — who had won the silver medal in the blitz as well — claiming a well-deserved second place once again. R.A.D.D.K. Jayawardana, the blitz champion of this category, finished in third with 3.5 points, completing a remarkable double-podium appearance across both formats.
🥇 Sadil Yashmitha Samarawickrama — 4 points 🥈 Keshan Kavindu Lisara — 4 points 🥉 R.A.D.D.K. Jayawardana — 3.5 points
Under 14 Girls — A Shared Honour
As with the blitz session, the Under 14 Girls rapid category was limited to just one completed round, with Tharuki Prahansana Methmanthi and Shawani Uththarangi Gurusingha sharing the honours after a draw. Both players took home 0.5 points and, more importantly, the pride of having participated in a national-level championship. Their presence on the day is itself a statement of growing interest in chess among young women in the Galle District.
🥇 Tharuki Prahansana Methmanthi — 0.5 points 🥈 Shawani Uththarangi Gurusingha — 0.5 points
Galle District Writes a Glorious Chapter
The National Youth Rapid Chess Championships 2026 – Galle District Selections will be remembered as one of the most impressive district-level junior chess events in recent memory. Four perfect scores, multiple tiebreak thrillers, and the sight of children as young as seven and eight competing with maturity and passion — it all added up to a day that the Galle District Chess Association and the Sri Lankan chess community can be immensely proud of.
To every champion, every runner-up, and every player who sat across the board and gave their absolute best — congratulations. You are the future of Sri Lankan chess, and that future looks very bright indeed.
