The Sri Lanka Junior National Chess Championship 2026 wrapped up a thrilling three-day battle at the NICD in Polgolla, with FM Dishal Nimsara Weerasekara and WFM Sethumlee Devhara Palliyage emerging as the new national junior champions in the Open and Girls categories respectively.
Organized by the Kandy District Chess Association on behalf of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, the championship ran from October 9 to 11, 2026, drawing together the country’s top junior talent for nine rounds of Swiss-system chess at a time control of 60 minutes with a 30-second increment per move. The event was run under Tournament Director NA Lahiru Thilina Kalupahana, with IA Lalantha Viraj Mudalige serving as Chief Arbiter, supported by Pairings Arbiter NA R S Kalana Sachi Dissanayake and the rest of the arbiting team.
The Open category delivered a nail-biting finish. FM Dishal Nimsara Weerasekara stormed through the field, winning six of his first seven games before a hard-fought draw against eventual runner-up S D Nadev Insara in round seven. With both players finishing on 7.5 points, it was tiebreak that ultimately separated them, handing Weerasekara the title. Insara’s own campaign was built on remarkable consistency, picking up wins in seven of his nine games en route to silver. Just half a point behind, B Jayod Yasindu Rashmika Perera claimed bronze with a resilient 7 points from 9, rounding out a podium that showcased the strength and depth of Sri Lanka’s junior Open field. AFM W A Gesandu Kithnula and K A Sadula Kausara Kodithuwakku were also in the hunt, finishing just outside the medals on 7 and 6.5 points respectively.
In the Girls category, WFM Sethumlee Devhara Palliyage was simply in a league of her own, cruising to an outstanding 8 points from 9 rounds and dropping only a single draw along the way, a performance that underlined why she entered the event as one of the favourites. B Yenuthi Sahanlee Perera pushed hard throughout the tournament to secure silver on 7.5 points, while P Y S Hasansee claimed bronze on 7 points after a tightly fought battle with the chasing group. B P Chanthuli Thanishka De Silva, also on 7 points, narrowly missed the podium on tiebreak, a reminder of just how competitive this year’s Girls field was from top to bottom.
Beyond the results sheet, the championship once again proved to be a showcase for the next generation of Sri Lankan chess talent, with both the Open and Girls sections producing tense finishes, hard-fought draws and plenty of upsets along the way. The event continues to serve as an important stepping stone for young players building toward national and international honours.
A big congratulations to the new champions, FM Dishal Nimsara Weerasekara and WFM Sethumlee Devhara Palliyage, to all the medalists, and to every player who competed in Polgolla this October. Sri Lankan junior chess continues to go from strength to strength.
