The State Trading Organization (STO) Boduriya Chess Championship 2026 begins on Thursday, May 7, at the Chess Arcade in Hulhumalé Phase 1, headlined by a MVR 50,000 grand prize for the winning club. Castle Chess Club has organized the event in collaboration with the Maldives Chess Association, with STO returning as title sponsor.
Matches run from May 7 to 9, with games kicking off each evening at 19:00hrs.
Format and Field
the tournament follows a “10 on 10” rapid chess format, restricted to clubs and associations registered with the Maldives Chess Association. Furthermore, the seven competing clubs will square off in a round-robin structure across seven rounds, ensuring every club plays every other. Moreover, the format places a premium on bench depth; clubs cannot lean on a single star player to carry results.
The MVR 50,000 first-place purse anchors the prize pool. The runner-up takes MVR 10,000. Additional awards go to the highest-scoring individual player, the best female player, and the youngest player to score a point in the tournament.
The seven competing clubs are: Club Double Eight, Club Checkmate, Castle Chess Club and Academy, Zugzwang Chess Club, Maldives Chess Club, Genius Chess Academy, and Passed Pawn Chess Club and Academy.
Scaling Up From the 2019 Edition
Castle Chess Club staged a similar 10-board rapid tournament in 2019, drawing four clubs at the time. This year’s edition expands the field to seven, suggesting a broader and more competitive base for organised club chess in the Maldives. Therefore, the STO Boduriya Chess Championship 2026 marks a clear step up in scale from its predecessor.
Cultural Anchor, Commercial Backing
Chess carries unusual cultural weight in the Maldives. The local game, known as “Raazuvaa” has roots stretching back centuries, with a full Dhivehi vocabulary developed for the pieces and tactical motifs. As a result, the sport blends international standardisation with deep local heritage; a positioning that has attracted commercial sponsors looking to align with both modern sport and traditional identity.
STO’s title sponsorship continues on broader corporate sports portfolio for the company, which has historically backed national-level athletic and social initiatives. Sun Online, a prominent local media outlet, serves as Official Media Partner for the championship. Yamo, Orchids Aura, Inked, and Gizmo round out the Associate Partners line-up.
How to Watch
Castle Chess Club will broadcast all matches live across two channels. Viewers can stream games on YouTube or via CastleChessClub.com. The live coverage opens the STO Boduriya Chess Championship 2026 to a national audience well beyond Hulhumalé venue, giving sponsors and clubs alike a wider platform than a purely on-site event would allow.
For the Maldivian chess scene, the three-day tournament represents one of the largest organised club competitions of the calendar year. With seven clubs, a substantial prize pool, and a structured round-robin draw, the competitive bar sits markedly higher than in previous editions.