The Kandy Open Chess Festival is the most popular and biggest chess event in Sri Lanka. It not only offers the biggest cash prize but attracts the highest number of participants among all internationally rated chess events. This year we expect 1000 players.

In fact, we hold the record for the best participation for an open rated event held in Sri Lanka. In 2018 there were 773 players, which broke the record of 677 we had set the previous year. This year we expect more than 30 foreign players for the event.
The Kandy Open is also unique in that it is the first to have a rated blitz championship on the sidelines of the main event. It has gained a lot of popularity over the years and has considerably added to the brand value of the Kandy Open.

In order to attract more players and especially the top players in the country, the organizers have upped the prize fund to Rs 1,025,000 [One Million and twenty-five thousand rupees], another record for a tournament held in Sri Lanka. The champion will receive Rs 100,000. To provide the best experience for the player we have shifted our venue to Oak Ray Regency hotel this year. With the new venue we are ready to accommodate 1000 players with international standard facilities.

The 10th Kandy Open Chess festival will include the following events:

• Kandy Open International Rating Chess Championship
• Kandy Open International Rated Blitz Chess Championship
• Chess Event for Parents.

The Kandy Open Chess Festival is the only event where there is tough competition, serious engagement as well as fun and lightness.
True to our watchword, ‘Start here, make a difference; the organizers spare no pains to develop each and every aspect of chess in Sri Lanka. We have scored many successes over the years and will continue to work as hard as always for the betterment of the game and the players.