Montesilvano, Italy — June 15–26, 2026
The World Youth Chess Championship 2026 is underway in the coastal town of Montesilvano, Italy, bringing together hundreds of young chess talents from over 80 federations worldwide. Organised under the FIDE banner, the championship features six age-group categories — Open and Girls divisions at Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18 levels — with each section contested over 11 rounds of Swiss-System play at a classical time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder and a 30-second increment per move.
Sri Lanka has sent a strong and well-rounded contingent of 14 players to represent the island nation across all six age groups, marking one of the country’s broadest youth chess delegations at the world stage. The squad features a blend of experienced rated players and promising young talents, led by Candidate Master Vinuka Dihain Wijerathna as the highest-rated Sri Lankan entry.
Sri Lankan Squad by Age Group
Open Under-14 (O14) — 3 Players
| # | Title | Name | FIDE ID | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 189 | CM | Wijerathna, Vinuka Dihain | 29981905 | 2165 |
| 275 | Dias, A A T Nethsara | 29909236 | 2079 | |
| 319 | Jayasooriya, Ruvin Sandharu | 29975085 | 2032 |
CM Vinuka Dihain Wijerathna spearheads the O14 squad as the top-rated Sri Lankan in the entire championship at 2165. He is joined by Nethsara Dias (2079) and Ruvin Sandharu Jayasooriya (2032), giving Sri Lanka a competitive trio in one of the most talent-dense categories at the event.
Open Under-16 (O16) — 2 Players
| # | Title | Name | FIDE ID | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 234 | Induwara, T H D Thisarindu | 9967001 | 2123 | |
| 251 | Ovitigala, Chenitha Mithvidu | 29950775 | 2105 |
The O16 section sees two solid entries from Sri Lanka. Thisarindu Induwara (2123) and Chenitha Mithvidu Ovitigala (2105) both carry ratings above the 2100 mark, positioning them well for a respectable campaign in the under-16 open field.
Open Under-18 (O18) — 1 Player
| # | Title | Name | FIDE ID | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 345 | Hettiarachchi, Jeewantha Aloka | 29945348 | 1998 |
Jeewantha Aloka Hettiarachchi is Sri Lanka’s sole representative in the oldest open category, carrying a rating just shy of the 2000 barrier. He will face a field headlined by IMs and GMs, making every point a valuable test of his mettle.
Girls Under-14 (G14) — 2 Players
| # | Title | Name | FIDE ID | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 577 | Akuratiya, A G Hansadie Aradhya | 9999949 | 1746 | |
| 643 | Jayasinghe, J M Senudhi Ahasya | 29959870 | 1638 |
In the youngest girls’ section, Hansadie Aradhya Akuratiya (1746) and Senudhi Ahasya Jayasinghe (1638) represent Sri Lanka. Both players will gain invaluable international experience competing against peers from dozens of countries.
Girls Under-16 (G16) — 3 Players
| # | Title | Name | FIDE ID | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 422 | Perera, B Yenuthi Sahanlee | 29950090 | 1921 | |
| 483 | De Silva, B P Chanthuli Thanishka | 29965535 | 1851 | |
| 622 | Gamaarachchi, G A Senaree M I | 29954819 | 1679 |
Sri Lanka fields its largest girls’ sub-team in the G16 division. Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera leads the group at 1921, closely followed by Chanthuli Thanishka De Silva at 1851. Senaree Gamaarachchi rounds out the trio and will look to make her mark against the international field.
Girls Under-18 (G18) — 3 Players
| # | Title | Name | FIDE ID | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 391 | WFM | Newansa, M Esandi | 9999060 | 1953 |
| 402 | Alwis, H Sandithi Kusalya | 9991166 | 1943 | |
| 672 | Devaraja, Dahamsa Punsadi | 9998390 | 1591 |
The G18 section features Sri Lanka’s highest-rated female player at the championship — WFM M Esandi Newansa at 1953, the squad’s only titled female player. She is backed by Sandithi Kusalya Alwis (1943), who is rated closely behind. Dahamsa Punsadi Devaraja completes the G18 lineup as a developing talent gaining crucial exposure.
Summary at a Glance
| Age Group | Players | Highest Rated |
|---|---|---|
| Open U14 | 3 | CM Wijerathna, Vinuka Dihain (2165) |
| Open U16 | 2 | Induwara, T H D Thisarindu (2123) |
| Open U18 | 1 | Hettiarachchi, Jeewantha Aloka (1998) |
| Girls U14 | 2 | Akuratiya, A G Hansadie Aradhya (1746) |
| Girls U16 | 3 | Perera, B Yenuthi Sahanlee (1921) |
| Girls U18 | 3 | WFM Newansa, M Esandi (1953) |
| Total | 14 |
Sri Lanka’s 14-member squad reflects the growing depth of youth chess across the country. With representatives in every single age group, the Sri Lanka Chess Federation has ensured comprehensive participation at the highest level of youth competition. The championship runs through June 26, 2026, and all eyes will be on these young Sri Lankan players as they test themselves against the best of their generation on the world stage.
