Commonwealth Chess c’ships from July 30 at Citrus Hotel, Waskaduwa
The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka on behalf of FIDE and the Commonwealth Chess Association will host the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2016 from July 30 to August 7 at Citrus Hotel, Waskaduwa.
The most important and strongest international chess tournament organised in Sri Lanka so far, the Commonwealth Championship has attracted ten International Grandmasters (GMS), 8 Women Grandmasters (WGMS) and 15 International Masters (IMS) and Women International Masters (WIMS) in addition to a large number of highly rated players from member countries of the Commonwealth.
In all there will be 150 foreign players from various Commonwealth countries including India (71), Pakistan (10), Bangladesh (2), Maldives (10), Malaysia, South Africa, England, Canada and Australia. The tournament will be conducted on a Swiss System over 10 rounds and the players will compete for a total prize fund of Rs. 2,500,000/- (approx USD 18,000).
Among the top players who have confirmed participation apart from the Defending Champion GM Abhijeet Gupta (India). Approximately 150 players from Sri Lanka will compete in this tournament in which Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded in Open, Women, Senior (Above 60 years), Under-20 (Boys and Girls), Under-18 (Boys and Girls), Under16 (Boys and Girls), Under-14 (Boys and Girls), Under-12 (Boys and Girls), Under10 (Boys and Girls), Under-8 (Boys and Girls) categories.
The Opening Ceremony will be held on July 31 at 9.00 am at the Citrus Hotel, Waskaduwa with Dayasiri Jayasekara the Minister of Sports as the Chief Guest. Peshala Jayarathne, Chief Minister North Central Province and the President of Chess Federation will also grace the occasion as Guest of Honour.
A press conference regarding the competition took place on Wednesday at the Olympic House where the Sports Minister emphasised that the lack of sponsors is a hindrance to sport and the Sports Ministry has requested to send their plans for the year in order to help them out.
“When a foreign tour is looming most sports associations request funds. We are not in a position to grant such requests. If a request is made early we might be in a position to help them. When we are unable to grant funds the associations go to the media and tell them that we are not helping them.
“Chess should be encouraged at every turn. We at the Sports Ministry are ever ready to help them. Chess is a brainy sport and in the year 2017 we are hopeful of introducing chess to a selected number of schools,” concluded Dayasiri Jayasekera.
– S.P