Proposal for Strategic
Digital Collaboration
ChessConnect SL × Chess Federation of Sri Lanka
A proposal to provide digital infrastructure supporting the discovery, registration, and management of chess tournaments across Sri Lanka, under the authority of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka.
Table of Contents
This proposal distinguishes between functionality currently operational in the ChessConnect SL platform, functionality that is partially developed, and capabilities proposed for future development. No capability is presented as operational unless it has been verified in the live system.
Executive Summary
ChessConnect SL is an independent web platform that lists chess tournaments across Sri Lanka and allows players to register online. It provides tools for tournament organizers to manage registrations, collect payments, and export participant data. The platform is operational and in active use, though it remains in a testing and refinement phase.
The problem: Tournament information in Sri Lanka is scattered across WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, and word-of-mouth. Parents miss events, players travel to wrong venues, and organizers spend significant time on manual registration administration. There is no single, reliable place to find and register for chess events.
The opportunity: A centralized digital platform can make chess tournaments easier to find and register for, and reduce the administrative workload on organizers. This benefits players, parents, organizers, and the Federation.
What ChessConnect SL proposes: A collaboration with the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL) in which ChessConnect SL provides the digital platform and technical support, while CFSL retains full authority over tournament recognition, regulations, ratings, and governance. ChessConnect SL's role is limited to technology and infrastructure.
The value to CFSL: Access to an operational digital platform without building one from scratch, starting with a no-cost pilot to validate the partnership before any long-term commitment. CFSL retains full authority throughout and may discontinue the collaboration at any point.
Honest acknowledgment: ChessConnect SL is a small, independent platform — not a large technology company. It is currently in a testing phase. This proposal is submitted in good faith, with capabilities accurately described, and limitations clearly stated. We invite CFSL to verify any claim by testing the live platform directly.
About ChessConnect SL
ChessConnect SL is an independent platform that lists chess tournaments and provides online registration. It covers the event lifecycle from listing and promotion through registration, payment collection, and participant management.
Purpose
To provide a single, reliable place where Sri Lankan chess players and parents can find and register for tournaments, and where organizers can manage events efficiently.
Who It Serves
Players, parents, coaches, clubs, academies, schools, and tournament organizers across Sri Lanka.
What It Is Not
ChessConnect SL is not a governing body, a rating authority, or a substitute for CFSL. It is a tool — not a decision-maker.
The platform is built on modern web technology and is accessible on desktop and mobile devices. It supports all tournament formats (Classical, Rapid, Blitz, Mixed), age categories from Under-6 through Open, and both in-person and online events.
Legal & Operational Status
ChessConnect SL is an independent project. Its legal entity status, registration details, and operational team would be disclosed to CFSL during initial discussions. We commit to full transparency regarding ownership, funding, and organizational structure before any formal agreement is signed. The platform is currently in a testing and refinement phase, and we acknowledge this openly.
Current Platform Capabilities & Limitations
Accuracy Note: The following capabilities have been verified against the actual ChessConnect SL system. Each is marked with its implementation status. We have intentionally excluded features that are irrelevant to CFSL's mission or that exist only for specific individual organizers.
4.1 Tournament Discovery & Listings
4.2 Online Registration
4.3 Payment & Fee Management
4.4 Organizer Tools
4.5 Admin & Platform Management
4.6 Communication
4.7 What the Platform Does NOT Currently Do
In the interest of full transparency, the following are capabilities the platform does not currently have. We list these openly so CFSL can make an informed decision:
- No native results display — the platform links to chess-results.com but does not display standings or results natively.
- No player profiles or tournament history — players cannot view their own past registrations on the platform.
- No federation-level dashboard — there is no CFSL-specific view of cross-tournament data.
- No analytics or reporting tools — the platform does not generate participation reports or trend visualizations.
- No digital certificates — participation or achievement certificates are not generated.
- No push notifications or SMS — communication is limited to email and WhatsApp group links.
- No automated rating tracking — FIDE ratings are fetched at registration time but not tracked over time.
- No live tournament coverage — the platform does not stream or broadcast games.
- Online card payments (Stripe) are built but intentionally disabled — not currently available.
- The platform is in a testing phase — features may change, and occasional issues may occur.
Value to the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka
The following are specific, verifiable areas where the platform can deliver value to CFSL. We have limited this list to capabilities that are currently operational — proposed future value is discussed separately in Section 12.
Centralized Event Discovery
A single platform where CFSL-recognized tournaments can be found, reducing the fragmentation of event information across social media.
Easier Player Access
Players and parents can discover and register for tournaments online, reducing barriers to participation.
Streamlined Registration
Online registration with FIDE auto-fill and automatic fee calculation reduces manual data entry for players and organizers.
Reduced Admin Workload
Automated registration collection, payment tracking, CSV export, and waitlist management reduce the manual effort of running events.
Better Communication
Automated email confirmations and direct organizer contact channels keep players informed.
Tournament Promotion
Search-optimized event pages and a centralized calendar increase the visibility of recognized tournaments.
Support for Organizers
Clubs, academies, and schools gain free tools to list and manage events, lowering the barrier to organizing tournaments.
What ChessConnect SL does not claim: We do not claim the platform will increase participation, grow the chess community, or modernize chess administration on its own. Those outcomes depend on many factors beyond any platform. What we can say is that the platform removes specific friction points in event discovery and registration, and reduces specific administrative tasks. The actual impact would be measured during the pilot (Section 11) and reported honestly.
Proposed Collaboration Model
The proposed model clearly separates roles to ensure no overlap between CFSL's governance authority and ChessConnect SL's technology role:
Role of CFSL
- Regulatory authority over all chess activities in Sri Lanka
- Tournament recognition, approval, and official sanctioning
- Official tournament information and verification of event legitimacy
- Federation policies, regulations, and competition rules
- Oversight of ratings, titles, and official chess records
- Final decision-making on all matters of chess governance
- Sole authority to grant 'CFSL-recognized' status to any event
- Right to withdraw recognition from any event at any time
Role of ChessConnect SL
- Providing and maintaining the web platform (technology only)
- Hosting tournament listings with details and prospectus viewing
- Processing online registrations and fee calculations
- Providing technical support to organizers and players
- Sending automated email confirmations
- Platform development and ongoing maintenance
- Providing organizer dashboards and CSV export tools
Critical Governance Clarification
The platform's admin "approval" workflow controls whether a tournament listing is published on the platform — it does not grant, imply, or verify CFSL recognition. These are two separate things:
ChessConnect SL admin decides whether a listing appears publicly on the platform. This is a quality/accuracy check only.
Only CFSL decides whether a tournament is officially recognized. The platform would display a 'CFSL-Recognized' badge only if CFSL explicitly instructs ChessConnect SL to do so for a specific event.
ChessConnect SL will never display a CFSL recognition badge on any tournament without explicit, written instruction from CFSL for that specific event.
Dispute Resolution
Any disagreement between CFSL and ChessConnect SL would first be addressed through direct discussion. If unresolved, either party may pause the collaboration while the matter is resolved. CFSL's authority takes precedence in any matter related to tournament recognition, regulations, or chess governance. ChessConnect SL's decisions take precedence only in matters of platform technology and operations.
Exclusivity
ChessConnect SL is an independent platform and may list tournaments from any organizer. However, if CFSL requests exclusive listing for CFSL-recognized events (i.e., CFSL-recognized events appear only on ChessConnect SL and not on competing platforms), this can be discussed. Conversely, CFSL is not required to direct organizers to use ChessConnect SL exclusively — organizers may use any platform they choose.
Service Levels
ChessConnect SL commits to the following during the pilot: (a) best-effort platform availability, (b) response to technical issues within 48 hours, (c) advance notice of any planned maintenance or downtime. Formal service level agreements would be defined in a written agreement if the collaboration proceeds beyond the pilot.
Event / Tournament Workflow
The following workflow shows how a CFSL-recognized tournament would operate through ChessConnect SL. Note the clear separation: CFSL controls recognition and results; ChessConnect SL controls listing and registration technology.
Organizer plans tournament
OrganizerA club, academy, or school prepares basic details: dates, venue, format, categories.
CFSL recognition
CFSLThe organizer seeks CFSL recognition. CFSL approves, recognizes, or sanctions the event as it sees fit. This step is entirely CFSL's decision.
Tournament listed on platform
ChessConnectThe organizer submits the tournament through the platform's wizard. ChessConnect SL admin reviews for accuracy and publishes it. Publication on the platform does NOT imply CFSL recognition.
CFSL recognition badge (if applicable)
CFSLIf and only if CFSL instructs ChessConnect SL in writing that this specific event is CFSL-recognized, a recognition badge is displayed. Without such instruction, no badge appears.
Player registration
ChessConnectPlayers discover the event and register online — FIDE auto-fill, fee calculation, receipt upload, and eligibility checks happen automatically.
Participant management
ChessConnectThe organizer uses their dashboard to view registrations, verify payments, approve/reject entries, manage waitlists, and export CSV for pairing software.
Event communication
ChessConnectAutomated confirmation emails, WhatsApp group links, and organizer contact channels keep players informed.
Tournament day
OrganizerThe tournament is conducted. The organizer uses the exported CSV with Swiss Manager or Chess-Results for pairings.
Post-event & official results
CFSLCFSL processes official results, ratings, and records. ChessConnect SL may display a link to the results page if CFSL or the organizer provides one. The tournament is marked as 'Completed'.
Key principle: Steps 2, 4, and 9 are entirely under CFSL's authority. ChessConnect SL has no role in recognition, badge granting, or results processing.
Benefits to Players
Rated Players
- FIDE ID auto-fill for faster registration
- Rating-based fee calculation
- Titled-player free entry option
- Clear FIDE-rated event labeling
Unrated Players
- Simple registration without FIDE requirements
- Clear unrated event labeling
- Age-appropriate category filtering
Junior Players
- Age category eligibility checks (U6–U18)
- Birth year range display for each category
- Kids-only event filtering
Parents
- Search by age category and province
- Verified venue, fee, and date information
- Online registration from home
- Google Maps links for venue navigation
Coaches
- School/club field during registration
- Clear event recognition status labeling
- Team tournament registration support
Chess Enthusiasts
- Centralized event discovery
- Calendar view for planning
- All formats: Classical, Rapid, Blitz
Benefits to Tournament Organizers
Less Manual Work
Online registration replaces manual form collection. Automated fee calculation, receipt checking, and waitlist management reduce repetitive tasks.
Event Visibility
Tournaments listed on a centralized, search-optimized platform with social sharing — reaching beyond a single WhatsApp group.
Participant Management
A dashboard shows all registrations, payment statuses, and categories. Filter, search, approve, and reject from one place.
CSV Export
Export approved player lists to CSV format compatible with Swiss Manager and Chess-Results — no manual data entry for pairings.
Revenue Tracking
Dashboard shows paid vs. pending amounts, per-tournament financials, and registration counts.
Free Listing
No cost to list tournaments on the platform during the pilot phase.
Benefits to the Sri Lankan Chess Ecosystem
We are cautious about claiming ecosystem-wide impact. The following are potential benefits that would need to be validated during the pilot:
Geographic Accessibility
Players in all provinces can find and register for events online, if events are listed on the platform.
Structured Data
Registration data is stored in a structured format rather than scattered across forms and messages.
Youth Access
Age-appropriate event discovery helps parents find suitable events for their children.
Public Visibility
A professional platform presents Sri Lankan chess events in an organized, accessible way.
We do not claim the platform will "transform" or "revolutionize" Sri Lankan chess. The platform is a tool. Its impact depends on adoption, organizer participation, and CFSL's direction. We commit to reporting actual measured outcomes honestly, whether positive or not.
Proposed Pilot Program
A structured pilot to validate the collaboration with minimal risk to CFSL:
Scope
A small number of CFSL-recognized events (recommended: 2–3) across different formats and organizer types. The exact number and selection would be determined jointly by CFSL and ChessConnect SL.
Duration
Approximately 2–3 months, covering the full event lifecycle from listing through post-event review.
Cost to CFSL
Zero. ChessConnect SL absorbs all platform costs during the pilot. CFSL incurs no financial obligation.
Evaluation Metrics
- • Number of registrations processed through the platform
- • Registration completion rate (started vs. completed)
- • Time saved by organizers on administrative tasks (self-reported)
- • Player satisfaction (post-event survey)
- • Organizer satisfaction and ease-of-use feedback
- • Number and severity of technical issues encountered
Exit Criteria
CFSL may end the pilot at any time, for any reason, with no obligation. If the pilot does not demonstrate clear value, or if any unresolved issues arise, the collaboration ends. All data collected during the pilot would be exported and provided to CFSL and the relevant organizers (see Section 13 on data portability).
Expansion Criteria
Expansion beyond the pilot would require: (a) positive feedback from participating organizers and players, (b) no unresolved significant technical issues, (c) a signed data sharing agreement, and (d) mutual agreement on the commercial model (Section 14).
Future Development Roadmap
Important: The following are proposed future capabilities that do not currently exist. They are technically realistic but are not commitments — they would be developed only if CFSL requests them and the collaboration proceeds.
CFSL-Branded Event Calendar
Proposed FutureA dedicated calendar page showing only CFSL-recognized events, with filtering by province, format, and age category.
CFSL Recognition Badge
Proposed FutureA badge on tournament listings indicating CFSL recognition — displayed only when CFSL instructs ChessConnect SL to do so for a specific event.
Tournament Archive
Proposed FutureA searchable archive of past tournaments with links to results on chess-results.com.
Federation Dashboard
Proposed FutureA CFSL-specific view of cross-tournament data: registration counts, geographic distribution, and format breakdowns.
Digital Certificates
Proposed FutureDownloadable participation certificates for tournament participants, if CFSL wishes to offer them.
Chess-Results.com Link Integration
Proposed FutureDirect linking from tournament pages to chess-results.com standings and results pages.
We have intentionally kept this list short and focused on capabilities directly relevant to a national federation. Features like player profiles, rating tracking, and analytics dashboards are possible but would require further discussion to define requirements and data governance.
Data, Security and Governance
Player Data Collected
The platform collects data necessary for tournament registration: name, email, phone, FIDE ID, rating, federation, date of birth, and gender. This data is accessible only to the player themselves, the tournament organizer, and platform administrators.
Security Measures
- • Row-level security (RLS): organizers see only their own tournaments; players see only their own data.
- • Authentication via the platform's built-in secure auth system.
- • Payment receipt verification runs server-side to prevent tampering.
- • Sensitive operations (email sending, receipt verification) run in authenticated backend functions.
Third-Party Services Used
The platform uses the following third-party services. Player data is sent to these services as part of normal platform operation:
- • Lichess API — for FIDE ID lookup (player name, rating, federation, title). The player's FIDE ID is sent to Lichess to retrieve this data.
- • AI vision service — for automated receipt checking (receipt image is analyzed to verify account numbers).
- • Email service — for sending registration confirmation and rejection emails.
- • File storage — for storing uploaded receipt images and prospectus files.
We acknowledge that the claim "data is not shared with third parties" would be inaccurate. Data is processed by the above services as part of platform functionality. A full data processing disclosure would be provided to players in the platform's privacy policy.
Data Residency
Platform data is stored on cloud infrastructure (currently Supabase / Base44 hosting). We acknowledge that this data may be stored on servers outside Sri Lanka. If CFSL requires data to be stored within Sri Lanka (data localization), this would need to be discussed and may require additional infrastructure arrangements. We commit to full transparency about where data is stored.
Children's Data
The platform collects date of birth and other information from junior players (who may be minors). We acknowledge that collecting data from minors requires appropriate parental consent procedures. The platform currently does not have an explicit parental consent flow for minors. This would need to be addressed before any collaboration involving junior tournaments, and we commit to implementing appropriate safeguards if CFSL requires them.
Data Portability & Exit
If the collaboration ends, for any reason, ChessConnect SL commits to: (a) exporting all tournament and registration data in a standard format (CSV/JSON) and providing it to CFSL and the relevant organizers, (b) providing a reasonable transition period (e.g., 30–90 days) for data migration, (c) deleting CFSL-related data from the platform upon CFSL's written request after migration is complete. CFSL and organizers would not be locked into the platform.
Data Breach Procedures
In the event of a data breach affecting CFSL-related data, ChessConnect SL commits to: (a) notifying CFSL within 72 hours of discovery, (b) providing a full description of the breach and affected data, (c) cooperating with any investigation. A formal incident response plan would be developed as part of the data sharing agreement.
Areas Requiring Formal Agreement
- • Data sharing terms between ChessConnect SL and CFSL
- • Data retention periods for tournament and registration records
- • Privacy policy alignment with CFSL requirements
- • Access levels and permissions for CFSL officials
- • Procedures for data requests, corrections, and deletions
- • Compliance with applicable Sri Lankan data protection regulations
- • Parental consent procedures for minor players
- • Data breach notification and response procedures
- • Data processing agreement (DPA) to be signed before pilot begins
Disclaimer: The above represents the platform's current security posture and proposed governance approach. We are not making legal claims about compliance with any specific regulation. Specific legal terms would be determined with appropriate legal counsel and formalized in a written data sharing agreement before any pilot begins.
Commercial / Financial Model
We do not prescribe a specific pricing model. The following are options to be discussed. We acknowledge that the financial sustainability of the platform is a legitimate concern for CFSL — a partnership with an unsustainable entity creates risk.
Free Pilot
No cost to CFSL or organizers during the pilot. ChessConnect SL absorbs all costs to validate the collaboration.
Per-Event Fee
Organizers pay a small per-tournament fee. CFSL-recognized events could receive a discounted or waived rate. Risk: this could deter small organizers.
Annual Partnership
A fixed yearly fee providing CFSL and affiliated organizers full platform access. Predictable cost for both parties.
Sponsored Partnership
A sponsor or the Federation underwrites platform costs, making it free for recognized events and organizers.
Sustainability Acknowledgment
ChessConnect SL is currently a small, independent project. We are transparent about this: the platform's long-term financial sustainability depends on reaching sufficient scale or securing partnership funding. We commit to disclosing our financial situation honestly to CFSL during discussions. If at any point the platform cannot continue operating, we commit to providing reasonable notice and full data export (as described in Section 13) so that CFSL and organizers are not left without access to their data.
The final commercial model would be determined through open discussion, taking into account the Federation's budget, the scale of collaboration, and the value delivered. We are flexible and open to structuring the partnership in a way that works for both parties.
Implementation Plan
Five phases, each with an exit point. Either party may pause or end the collaboration at the end of any phase:
Discussion & Requirements
2–4 weeksMeetings to discuss goals, requirements, and scope. Identify pilot events and organizers. Define success criteria. Disclose legal entity status and financial situation. Sign data sharing agreement.
Exit: Either party may decline to proceed. No obligation incurred.
Pilot
2–3 monthsRun 2–3 CFSL-recognized tournaments through the platform. Collect feedback. Monitor technical performance and user satisfaction.
Exit: CFSL may end the pilot at any time. Full data export provided.
Evaluation
2–4 weeksJoint review of pilot results against success criteria. Honest assessment of what worked and what didn't. Decide whether to proceed.
Exit: If results are negative, collaboration ends amicably with data export.
Expansion
3–6 monthsExpand to more events. Begin development of CFSL-specific features if requested. Refine workflows based on pilot feedback.
Exit: Review at 3 months. Either party may pause expansion.
Long-Term Partnership
OngoingFull-scale collaboration with regular performance reviews (quarterly). Continuous improvement based on feedback.
Exit: Either party may end the partnership with reasonable notice (e.g., 90 days) and full data export.
Key Performance Indicators
The following KPIs are recommended. We have set conservative pilot targets — if the platform cannot meet these, that is itself useful information for the evaluation:
| KPI | Measurement | Pilot Target |
|---|---|---|
| Participating Events | CFSL-recognized tournaments using the platform | 2–3 events |
| Registered Players | Total registrations processed | To be measured |
| Registration Completion Rate | Started registrations that are completed | > 70% |
| Organizer Adoption | Organizers actively using the dashboard | 2+ organizers |
| Technical Issues | Number of significant issues per event | < 2 per event |
| Admin Time Saved | Self-reported hours saved vs. manual process | To be measured |
| User Satisfaction | Post-event survey scores (1–5) | > 3.5 average |
We commit to reporting actual results honestly, including any KPIs that are not met. The purpose of the pilot is to learn, not to sell.
Risk Register & Mitigation
We believe an honest proposal must acknowledge its own risks. The following are risks we have identified, along with mitigation measures:
| Risk | Likelihood | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Platform is in testing phase — bugs or downtime may occur | Medium | Pilot scope is small; issues are contained. 48-hour response commitment. Honest reporting of all issues. |
| ChessConnect SL may not be financially sustainable long-term | Medium | Full financial disclosure during discussions. Data portability guarantees (Section 13). No lock-in. |
| CFSL recognition badge could be misused or implied without authorization | Low | Badge displayed only on explicit written CFSL instruction per event. No automatic or implied recognition. |
| Player data (including minors' data) may be mishandled | Medium | Data sharing agreement before pilot. Parental consent flow for minors if required. Breach notification within 72 hours. |
| Platform admin approval could be confused with CFSL recognition | Medium | Clear separation documented (Section 6). Different terminology: 'published' vs. 'recognized'. |
| Organizers may resist adopting a new platform | Medium | Pilot with willing organizers only. No mandate during pilot. Free during pilot. |
| Third-party service dependencies (Lichess, email, AI) could fail | Low | Core registration works without these. FIDE lookup is optional. Email is best-effort. |
Conclusion
ChessConnect SL offers CFSL access to an operational digital platform for tournament listing and registration — without cost during a pilot, without lock-in, and without any claim on the Federation's authority.
We have been deliberately honest in this proposal: the platform is in a testing phase, it is a small independent project, and we do not claim it will transform Sri Lankan chess. What we do claim is that it can reduce specific friction in event discovery and registration, and that a pilot would let both parties measure whether that reduction is meaningful.
The objective is not to replace CFSL's systems or authority, but to offer a tool that the Federation can evaluate on its own terms. If the tool proves useful, the collaboration can grow. If it does not, CFSL walks away with its data and no obligation.
We respectfully invite the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka to an initial, no-obligation discussion to explore whether this collaboration is worth piloting.
Contact Information
We welcome the opportunity to discuss this proposal and are available for a meeting at the Federation's convenience.
Note: Legal entity details, physical address, and team information will be provided to CFSL during initial discussions, before any formal agreement is signed.
This proposal was prepared by ChessConnect SL for submission to the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka. All claims regarding platform capabilities have been verified against the live system as of October 26, 2026. This is Revision 2, revised following internal critical review.
© 2026 ChessConnect SL. All rights reserved.