The Sri Lanka National Women’s Team Chess Championship 2026 — Southern Province concluded on June 14, with Success Chess Academy emerging as champions after five rounds of competitive team chess. The event was uploaded and managed by S S Gayashan De Silva, and brought together 38 teams from across the Southern Province in what proved to be one of the most well-attended women’s team chess events the region has seen.
The tournament was played under the Swiss team system over five rounds, with teams fielding up to six boards per match. The breadth of participation — from established chess academies to school teams and college squads — reflected the thriving state of women’s chess development in the Southern Province.
A Dominant Champion
Success Chess Academy entered the tournament as the top-seeded team and lived up to that billing in impressive fashion. They swept through their first four rounds with commanding victories, defeating Christ Church Girls’ College 5-1 in round one, St. Mary’s Convent Matara B 5.5-0.5 in round two, Sanghamiththa Senior C 6-0 in round three, and Sokians Girls 6-0 in round four. The final round pitted them against second-seeded Southlands College in what proved to be a closely fought encounter that ended 3-3 — a result that confirmed Success Chess Academy as champions with 9 match points and 25.5 board points.
The team’s individual performers were outstanding throughout. Lithuli Chanara Ravisinghe on Board 4 finished with an impressive 4.5 points from 5 games, while R B Pumudi Hansadi on Board 2 matched that tally with 4.5 points from 5 games. Anakshi Senulya Weerarathna on Board 1 recorded a perfect 4 from 4, earning a performance rating of 2068 — a remarkable figure that reflects her consistency and fighting spirit across the event. R K Nuthara Thewmali contributed 3.5 from 5, M Sanindee Niwetha Kularathna added 3.5 from 4, and R P Hansali H Thrinethsaree delivered 3.5 from 4 in the lower boards.
Southlands College Push All the Way
Southlands College delivered a strong campaign of their own, finishing level with the champions on 9 match points with four wins and one draw. Their standout performer was Kottawa Iniyage Sithuki Sawanya on Board 3, who finished with a perfect 4 from 4 and earned a performance rating of 2061. L G Apurvi Akarshana on Board 1 contributed 3.5 from 4, while K K Hansali Dasanya added 3 from 4 and B K Nihansa Dewmini chipped in with 3 from 4. Ultimately, Southlands College were separated from the title only on board points — a narrow margin that underlines just how closely matched the top two teams were throughout the tournament.
St. Mary’s Convent Matara Takes the Bronze
St. Mary’s Convent Matara secured third place with 8 match points, winning four of their five matches and losing only to Sokians Girls in round three. Their campaign featured some strong individual performances, with H K Gihansa Githminie finishing with an impressive 4.5 from 5 games and W S Dewmi Seya equally consistent, also finishing with 4.5 from 5 and earning a performance rating of 1572. P H Hesanya Senaji, playing without a published rating, delivered an outstanding tournament finishing with 4 from 4 and a performance rating of 1800, showcasing the emerging talent within the St. Mary’s squad.
A Competitive Field
Beyond the top three, the tournament featured competitive performances from a wide range of teams. Southlands College A finished fourth, Sanghamiththa Senior A fifth, and Sokians Girls seventh — all finishing on 8 match points — reflecting the depth of competitive women’s chess across the Southern Province. With 38 participating teams and hundreds of games played across five rounds, this championship stands as a landmark event in the Southern Province’s chess calendar.
Congratulations to Success Chess Academy on their well-deserved title, to Southlands College on their outstanding runners-up finish, and to St. Mary’s Convent Matara on claiming the bronze. A warm congratulations also goes to every player, coach, and team official who participated in making this championship a success, and to organizer S S Gayashan De Silva for managing the event records throughout.
