On the 9th of August, 2026, the Blue Fox Hotel in Hikkaduwa filled with the sound of ticking clocks, nervous parents, and the quiet courage of Sri Lanka’s youngest chess players as the Black Stallion Chess Fiesta 2026 All Island Chess Championship crowned champions across twelve age categories in a single unforgettable day. Organised by the Black Stallion Chess Academy, the event ran as a five-round Swiss-system tournament in each group, with a classical time control of 90 minutes per game, and welcomed boys and girls from under 6 right through to under 14.
The youngest boards produced some of the most dominant chess of the day. In the Under 6 Boys, K A Sathindu Dahammeth was flawless, winning all five of his games, while H H Ovindi Seha Dewhari matched that perfect run to take the Under 6 Girls title. The Under 7 sections belonged to R G Yashen Bashitha Deeman Gunnathunga and G S A Enuki Evinya Sahabandu, both storming to a perfect five out of five and refusing to give an inch to anyone.
The perfect scores kept coming. In the Under 8 Boys, S A Daham Nethsara Sampath won every single game, and D M Ayansa Nethusandi did exactly the same to rule the Under 8 Girls. The Under 9 groups saw W. Binul Yenuja Jayawardane and M. N. Fathima Ashka both finish with immaculate five-point hauls, each surviving five rounds without dropping a half-point, a remarkable feat of concentration for such young players. Behind them, the fights for second and third were fierce, with several children edged out only on tiebreaks after finishing level on points.
As the age groups climbed, so did the drama. The Under 12 Boys’ title went to W.A. Kusal Onara Wijethunga, who held his nerve in a tense final-round draw to finish on four and a half points, just ahead of Benura Sanumitha Perera. The Under 12 Girls produced a nail-biter, with G. Sanadee Sanalya De Zoysa Wickramarathna and G. S. A. Jenuvi Dahamnee Sahabandu both finishing on four and a half; the title was decided by the finest of tiebreak margins after the two had earlier shared a hard-fought draw. In the Under 14 Boys, P M K Kavindu Lisara stayed unbeaten across the event, holding a crucial last-round draw to edge out ACM H Minupa Nejan Dharmasena and ACM W W Sadev Hiranya, who were locked together right behind him.
The Under 14 Girls section, played over four rounds, saw S M Dahamna Sanudini Siriwardana sweep all four of her games for a perfect score and a thoroughly deserved championship, ahead of M G Senumi Thihansa and K L Sasandi Dilanya.
Credit for a beautifully run event goes to Tournament Director DA G. M. T. Lakshan and Chief Arbiter FA D S A Dulanga Dilhan, whose team kept twelve separate competitions flowing smoothly and fairly throughout the day—no small task with so many eager young players and proud families packed into one venue. The atmosphere was everything junior chess should be: competitive but kind, nervous but joyful, and bursting with promise.
Events like the Black Stallion Chess Fiesta matter enormously. They give the youngest players their first taste of real tournament pressure, their first trophies, and their first big lessons—and they remind everyone that the strength of Sri Lankan chess tomorrow depends on days exactly like this one.
A huge congratulations to all twelve champions, to every player who stepped onto the podium, and to each and every child who sat down, shook hands, and gave their very best over the board. Your courage lit up Hikkaduwa. To the parents, coaches, and organisers who made it possible, thank you for nurturing this wonderful generation of young talent.
