Girithalegama National School in Girithale witnessed a spectacular display of young chess talent on January 24, 2026, as Mind Plus International Chess Academy organized the Mind Plus Chess Extravaganza 2026. The tournament brought together promising players across nine different categories, from budding Under 7 talents to experienced competitors in the Open section.
The championship was conducted under standard time control of 45 minutes per player, with Chief Arbiter FA Thilakarathne R P D R and Arbiter Swiss Weerakoon W M W D ensuring smooth tournament operations throughout the day. Each category followed a Swiss system format with five intense rounds of competition.
Open Category Showcases Top Talent
In the Open section, ACM Loshitha Gaudar emerged as champion with an impressive 4.5 points from five rounds. Gaudar’s campaign included crucial victories in the opening rounds and demonstrated excellent tactical awareness throughout the tournament. The title race remained tight until the final round, with Gaudar securing a half-point advantage over the competition.
Muthunayaka M A K finished as first runner-up with a perfect 4 points, displaying remarkable consistency across all five rounds. ACM Vithanage M V M V claimed third position, also with 4 points, showcasing the competitive depth in the Open category. The battle for top positions came down to tie-break calculations, highlighting the closely contested nature of the championship.
Under 13 Categories Display Fierce Competition
The Under 13 Open section witnessed a dominant performance by Abeysinghe A M D S B, who scored a perfect 5 points from 5 rounds. Abeysinghe’s flawless campaign included strategic victories against strong opponents, demonstrating mature chess understanding beyond his years. Samarasinghe S S N finished second with 4 points, while Prabhashwara D secured third place, also scoring 4 points.
In the Under 13 Girls category, Weththasinghe S A claimed championship honors with 4 points. The competition featured exciting tactical battles, with Jayathilaka G K M finishing as runner-up with 4 points based on tie-break scores.
Under 11 and Under 9 Winners Emerge
The Under 11 Girls section saw ACM Thilakarathne R P N D capture the title with 4 points from 5 rounds in a round-robin format. ACM Jayarathna W G Tinudi Sasathma finished second with 3 points, demonstrating strong strategic play throughout the tournament.
In the Under 11 Open category, Abeysinghe A M V N B emerged victorious with 4.5 points, narrowly edging out Gaudar L S who finished second with 4 points. The category featured several closely contested games that went down to the final rounds.
The Under 9 Open section witnessed Rathnayake Rrdk claim the championship with 4.5 points, showing impressive maturity in handling pressure situations. Ekanayaka D M D D secured second place with 4 points, while Senhiru K P T finished third, also with 4 points.
In the Under 9 Girls category, Sahasna G V S Y dominated with a perfect 5 points from 5 rounds. Chavindya U D M L finished runner-up with 4 points, while Jayaweera M H S S claimed third position with 3.5 points.
Youngest Champions Crowned
The Under 7 categories showcased the tournament’s youngest participants, with Ramanayaka R M D S winning the Under 7 Open section with a perfect 5 points. Sithnula K G V and Jayathilaka G L A both finished with 4 points, taking second and third positions respectively.
In the Under 7 Girls category, the competition remained intense throughout, with Jayathilake M G A M, Bandara W V R S T, and Seyansa R B U W Jenuli all finishing with 4 points in a three-way tie for the top positions.
Tournament Success
The Mind Plus Chess Extravaganza 2026 once again demonstrated the growing strength and enthusiasm for chess among Sri Lankan youth. The tournament provided an excellent platform for young players to test their skills and gain valuable competitive experience.
The event was successfully organized by Mind Plus International Chess Academy, with the arbiting team ensuring fair play and smooth operations throughout all nine categories. The venue at Girithalegama National School provided an excellent setting for the young champions to showcase their talents.
Congratulations to all participants and winners for their outstanding performances at the Mind Plus Chess Extravaganza 2026. The tournament has once again highlighted the promising future of chess in Sri Lanka, with young talents continuing to develop their skills and passion for the game.
