Seven Sri Lankan chess players represented the nation at the World Youth Championships 2025, which concluded on October 15 at the Grand Blue Fafa Resort in Durres, Albania. The prestigious event, organized by FIDE in collaboration with the Albanian Chess Federation, brought together 720 young talents from around 90 federations competing across six age categories in an 11-round Swiss system tournament.
The championship was conducted under the direction of IO Majlinda Pilinci as Tournament Director and IA Ashot Vardapetyan as Chief Arbiter, with a standard time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes until the end, with a 30-second increment from move one.
Under 18 Open Category
CM Dinujaya Kodithuwakku represented Sri Lanka in the Under 18 Open section with a rating of 2138, competing against 119 players in one of the tournament’s strongest categories. Kodithuwakku scored 6 points from 11 rounds, gaining valuable experience against titled players including Grandmasters and International Masters.
The championship witnessed a thrilling four-way tie at the top, with the gold medal decided on tiebreaks. GM Jagadeesh Siddharth of Singapore emerged victorious with 8.5 points out of 11, claiming the championship despite losing his final round game to IM Jakub Seemann. IM Artiom Stribuk from FIDE secured the silver medal with 8.5 points, while IM Adarsh Uppala Sriram of India claimed bronze with 8.5 points, ending India’s three-year medal drought at the World Youth Championships. IM Jakub Seemann of Poland also finished with 8.5 points but placed fourth on tiebreaks, demonstrating the exceptional competitive level of this category.
Under 18 Girls Category
Two Sri Lankan players competed in the Under 18 Girls section among 81 participants. WFM Dahamdi Sanudula, with a rating of 1990, scored 6 points from 11 rounds. AFM Javindi Avarjana Akuratiya, rated 1671, achieved 4.5 points from 11 rounds. Both players gained invaluable international experience competing at this elite level.
WIM Muziyan Gao of China dominated the championship with an impressive 9 points out of 11, displaying consistent and powerful chess throughout the tournament. WIM Manon Schippke of France secured the silver medal with 8.5 points, while Valeria Kleymenova from FIDE took home the bronze with 8 points out of 11.
Under 16 Open Category
Thisarindu Induwara carried Sri Lankan hopes in the Under 16 Open section with a rating of 2119, competing in a field of 143 talented young players. Induwara scored 5 points from 11 rounds in this highly competitive category.
The championship witnessed one of the tightest races of the entire event, with the top eight players all finishing on 8 points out of 11. GM Edgar Mamedov of Kazakhstan emerged victorious with 8 points, decided on superior tiebreaks. IM Sauat Nurgaliyev, also from Kazakhstan, claimed the silver medal with 8 points, while FM Alexandr Volodin from FIDE took third place with 8 points. The championship positions were determined entirely by tiebreak calculations, highlighting the exceptional depth of talent in this age category.
Under 16 Girls Category
WFM Esandi Newansa, represented the country in the Under 16 Girls category with a rating of 1952. Competing against 113 players, Newansa scored 5.5 points from 11 rounds, demonstrating strong fighting spirit throughout the tournament.
WFM Diana Khafizova from FIDE dominated the championship with an outstanding 9.5 points out of 11, showcasing superior tactical and strategic understanding. WFM Marija Kuznecova of Latvia secured the silver medal with 8.5 points, while FM Chen Yining of China claimed bronze with 8.5 points, completing a highly competitive podium.
Under 14 Open Category
Vinuda Vidm Wickramasinghe represented Sri Lanka in the Under 14 Open section with a rating of 1997, competing among 149 young talents. Wickramasinghe scored 5 points from 11 rounds, facing players who already hold FIDE Master titles despite their young age.
FM Mark Smirnov of Kazakhstan claimed the championship with outstanding play, scoring an impressive 9.5 points out of 11. IM Haochen Jiang of China finished as runner-up, while CM Artem Lebedev from FIDE took third place with 8 points. The high level of play demonstrated the incredible talent developing in youth chess worldwide.
Under 14 Girls Category
ACM Hansadie Aradhya Akuratiya completed the Sri Lankan contingent, competing in the Under 14 Girls category with a rating of 1777. Akuratiya scored 6 points from 11 rounds against 107 participants, gaining invaluable experience against some of the world’s most promising young female players.
WFM Polina Smirnova from FIDE captured the championship with 9 points out of 11, displaying mature and solid chess well beyond her years. Rukiya Olimova of Uzbekistan finished second with 9 points (decided on tiebreaks), while WFM Jemaicah Yap Mendoza of the Philippines claimed bronze, also with 9 points.
Looking Forward
The Sri Lankan contingent gained crucial experience competing at this elite international level. Exposure to such high-caliber competition helps young players understand international playing styles, improve competitive temperament, and build confidence for future tournaments.
Congratulations to all seven Sri Lankan participants who represented the nation with pride at the World Youth Championships 2025. Their dedication to the game and willingness to compete at the highest international level is commendable. Special recognition goes to CM Dinujaya Kodithuwakku and ACM Hansadie Aradhya Akuratiya for both scoring 6 points in their respective categories, and to WFM Esandi Newansa for achieving 5.5 points.
We wish them continued success in their chess careers and look forward to seeing them achieve greater heights in future tournaments. The championship once again demonstrated that chess continues to be a unifying force, bringing together young minds from diverse backgrounds to compete, learn, and grow together.
