Meet Gunawardhana Devindya Oshini: The World’s Youngest Woman International Master at Just 13!

At just 13 years old, Sri Lanka’s Gunawardhana Devindya Oshini has made history as the youngest Women International Master (WIM) in the world. Born in 2012, Oshini has rapidly risen through the ranks of international chess, becoming the third Sri Lankan player to achieve the WIM title and the youngest ever from her country. With a FIDE rating of 2121, she also holds the distinction of being the first Sri Lankan female player to surpass the 2100 mark.

A Rising Star in Chess

Oshini’s journey to chess stardom has been marked by impressive victories and remarkable achievements. In the 2024 Chess Olympiad, she delivered a stellar performance, scoring 8.5 out of 9 games and playing a pivotal role in securing a bronze medal for Sri Lanka in Category C. Her dominance on the chessboard is further demonstrated by her victories in multiple prestigious tournaments.

In 2023, Oshini etched her name in history by winning the World Cadet Chess Championship in the U-12 Girls category, becoming the first Sri Lankan to achieve this feat. Her momentum continued into 2024 when she triumphed in the Western Asian Girls Chess Championship (U-20) and made history once again by becoming the youngest player to ever win Sri Lanka’s National Women’s Chess Championship.

Sri Lanka’s youngest WIM at the age of 12 years 5 months 21 days

Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana became Sri Lanka’s youngest Woman International Master last year at the age of 12 years 5 months 21 days. In recent times, IM Alice Lee (USA) became the youngest WIM at the age of 11 years 10 months and 8 days.

Devindya’s achievements

• Gold – World Cadets Under-12 Girls 2023
• Gold – Commonwealth Under-10 Girls 2022
• Gold – Asian Youth Under-10 Girls 2022
• Gold – Asian Schools Classical, Rapid and Blitz Under-10 Girls 2022
• Gold – Western Asian Under-20 Girls 2024. Earned WIM title, became youngest Sri Lanka and third female of the country to become a Woman International Master.
• Gold – Western Asia Youth Rapid and Blitz Under-12 Girls 2023
• Gold – FIDE Online World Cup Cadets and Youth Under-10 Girls 2021
• Gold – Western Asia Youth Online Under-10 Girls 2021
• Gold – Sri Lanka National Women Champion 2024. Youngest girl ever to clinch Sri Lanka National Women title.
• Silver – Asian Youth Under-12 Girls 2023
• Silver – Western Asian Junior Girls 2023. Devindya earned WIM-norm for this performance.
• Silver – Western Asia Youth Under-12 Girls 2023
• Bronze in Category C for Sri Lanka – 45th Chess Olympiad for Women
• Bronze – FIDE World Cup Cadets Under-12 Girls 2024
• Bronze – Asian Youth Online Under-10 Girls 2021
• Bronze – FIDE Youth Online Under-10 Girls Rapid 2021
• Bronze – FIDE Online Queen’s Chess Festival Group D 2021
• Girls Player of the Year Award 2023 by Asian Chess Federation

Guided by Expertise

Oshini’s remarkable progress in chess is a testament to her talent, dedication, and the guidance of her coach, Mr. Akila Kavinda, who has been mentoring her since 2020. Under his coaching, she has sharpened her skills, refined her strategies, and developed the confidence to compete against the best players on the global stage.

Aiming for the Ultimate Prize

Despite her young age, Oshini is already setting her sights on even greater achievements. Her ultimate dream is to become the Women’s World Champion, a goal she is determined to pursue with relentless dedication and hard work.

Gunawardhana Devindya Oshini’s journey is an inspiration not only to aspiring chess players in Sri Lanka but to young talents worldwide. As she continues to break records and set new benchmarks, the chess world eagerly awaits the next chapter in her extraordinary career. Remember her name-because she is just getting started!