The STO Boduriyaa Championship 2026 is set to begin on Thursday night, bringing together chess clubs from across the Maldives for one of the country’s leading team chess competitions.
Organised by Castle Chess Club and Academy in association with the Maldives Chess Association, the three-day championship will run from 7 to 9 May and feature 84 players aged between 9 and 60, highlighting the growing popularity of chess across multiple generations in the Maldives.
This year’s tournament will award a cash prize of MVR 50,000 to the champion team. Additional awards will be presented to the runner-up team, alongside individual recognitions including The Youngest Player Award, Best Female Player, and the tournament MVP.
Participating clubs include Club Double Eight, Club Checkmate, Castle Chess Club and Academy, Zugzuwang Chess Club, Maldives Chess Club, Guniess Chess Club, and Passed Pawn Chess Club and Academy.
Organisers said the tournament is designed to reward overall team performance and club depth, rather than relying solely on top-ranked players.
Chess continues to hold a unique place within Maldivian culture, where the game is commonly referred to in Dhivehi as “Raazuvaa”. Many chess-related terms also carry local Dhivehi expressions, reflecting the game’s longstanding presence and cultural familiarity within the country.
Beyond competition, organisers noted the educational and social benefits associated with chess, including the development of concentration, discipline, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills among players of all ages.
The championship is being held with sponsorship support from STO as the title sponsor. Organisers said such partnerships play an important role in expanding opportunities for young players and strengthening intellectual sports in the Maldives.
Media coverage for the tournament will be provided by Sun.mv as the official media partner. Inked joins as the printing partner, while Gizmo will serve as the technical partner. Associate partners for the event include Yummo and Orchid’s Aura.
Selected matches from the championship are also expected to be livestreamed through the Castle Chess Club YouTube channel and the club’s official website, allowing wider public access to the competition.
