9th Dhamso International Chess Festival 2019 was started on 19th April 2019 at the S Thomas De Silva Memorial Auditorium, Dharmasoka College. It was scheduled to held till 23rd April 2019 as 10 rounds Swiss System event with the time control of one and half hour + thirty seconds increment.
This is the ninth consecutive year of Dhamso. With the highest participation of 538 Players in Dhamso history, it was commenced in a grand manner. IA Thiwanka Tissera headed the Arbiter panel of the event. Foreign participation was high as in every year. This time we had one FIDE Master from Iran, Amir Mohammad Hamidi (ELO 2217) and three FIDE rated Indian players. Samrat Ghorai (ELO 1933), Rohan Nag Chowdhury (ELO 1598) and Anirban Basu (ELO 1450) respectively. With them, top seeds players from Sri Lanka competed for the crown of DICF player of the year.

After the 5 rounds, on Easter Sunday, 21st April 2019, Sri Lanka had to face the fear in terrorism again. Some Islamic extremists set up suicide bombs in the country resulting loss of innocence lives more than 250. With that prevailing situation, we had to postpone the event until 23rd April. At the same time curfew imposed nationwide till further notice. With the options in had, we decided to conduct 3 rounds on 23rd April 2019 with the time control of one hour + thirty seconds increment and wind up the event. But the security level was not stable on 22nd April also. With the deep discussion with the security personnel and Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, we had to cancel the event considering the players’ security. Due to Dhamso is an International rated event, we couldn’t conduct the event on other days. ( After a few months later). All the preparations were done in advanced and foreign players were involved. With this unexpected situation occurred, we had to give compensation payment for whole the foreign players also. For their air tickets and appearance in the event.

We couldn’t conduct a prize giving because regulations not allowing us to take a result from finished five rounds. But we’ll give the participation certificates for the players in future. Rating report for the five rounds was submitted to FIDE and rating changes will calculate according to that. We will offer two options for the local players who paid the entree fee in 9th Dhamso International Chess Festival 2019. We will refund 40 per cent fee from their entree fee or you will get a 40 per cent discount in 2020 Dhamso International Chess Festival. Which will be the greatest Dhamso event in its history. Because It’s Dhamso’s tenth anniversary. We promise you, You will feel the real atmosphere of the name of Festival in 2020.

We share our thoughts with the nation in this crucial time period and we believe Game of Chess will help to heal this wound in soon and unite the people as one country. Where every human being valuing the others coexistence.

Gens Una Sumus

IA Malith Akalanka
On the behalf of the Dhamso International Chess Festival organizing Committee