The inaugural Dhon Manik Investments Male' Junior Chess Open 2026 concluded successfully on 29 August, with Ibrahim Aaish Haleem and Luke Alvin Shafy crowned champions in the Under-12 and Under-18 categories respectively.

The three-day tournament was held from 27 to 29 August 2026 at Dhon Manik Sky View in Malé, attracting a total of 80 young chess players.

The Under-12 category featured 51 participants, while 29 players competed in the Under-18 category. Both categories were played over seven Swiss-system rounds, with players ranked according to their points and the tournament's published tie-break criteria.

The tournament was conducted as an unrated rapid event, using a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move.

A total cash prize fund of MVR 16,500 was distributed among 12 prize winners, alongside trophies, medals and achievement certificates.

The tournament regulations allowed each player to receive only one prize within the same category. Overall first-, second- and third-place prizes took priority over special-category awards, allowing prizes such as Best Girl and age-group awards to pass to the next eligible player when necessary.

The closing ceremony was held at Dhon Manik Sky View following the completion of the final rounds. Hamid Afeef, Chairman of Dhon Manik Investments, attended as the Chief Guest and presented the championship awards to the winners.

The ceremony was also attended by several notable guests, including Munthazim Ibrahim, MP for Kaashidhoo Constituency, Mohamed Hassan (Mohan), a three-time Maldives National Chess Champion, and Nihaya Ahmed (Niha), a ten-time Maldives National Women's Chess Champion.

Participation certificates, medals, trophies, achievement certificates and cash prizes were presented during the ceremony, marking the successful conclusion of the first edition of the junior chess open.

The tournament was organised by Male' Chess Club, Club Dark Knight and Club Stonewall, with Dhon Manik Investments as the main sponsor and Dhon Manik Sky View providing the venue and hospitality. M7 served as the printing partner.

The event was directed by Tournament Director Abdul Rahman Ali.

With strong participation from young players and support from the organisers, sponsors and chess community, the inaugural Dhon Manik Investments Male' Junior Chess Open marks another positive step in promoting competitive chess and developing the next generation of chess talent in the Maldives.