Idlib – Anas al-Khouli

The city of Idlib in northwestern Syria is witnessing an increasing interest in some traditional games that have a competitive nature and rely on intelligence, including the game of al-Dama, organized through individual efforts or by sports organizations.

This type of game provides an outlet for residents in the region amid deteriorating living and economic conditions, especially since it does not incur financial costs compared to other sports.

On July 5, many al-Dama players gathered in Idlib to participate in the fourth al-Dama championship, organized by the Sports Federation in the city under the title “Dama of Love.” The championship lasted for one day.

Post-2019 activity

The game has seen increased interest in recent years compared to its situation in Syria before the revolution. No championships were organized before 2011, and in 2019, the first championship in Idlib was organized by amateurs and enthusiasts of the game.

The championships continued to be organized individually by players until 2023, when the Sports Federation in Idlib started organizing al-Dama championships.

Player Mohammed al-Hasan (56 years old), from camps near Sarmada, participated in the al-Dama championship. He said that championships were absent in the past, and al-Dama was played in evening gatherings among relatives and friends.

With technological advancement and increased interest in the game, it has become possible to participate in international championships through dedicated websites, enabling players to meet others from different countries around the world, according to al-Hasan.

Al-Hasan explained that al-Dama players are characterized by calmness, as it is a mind game. Players are always keen to meet and compete with other players.

The Fourth al-Dama Championship in Idlib – July 5, 2024 (Enab Baladi/Anas al-Khouli)

Humble organization

Despite not needing equipment and tools, the players participating in the al-Dama championship faced difficulties related to travel costs to Idlib. Additionally, limiting the game to one day deprived those far from the city from coming due to the difficulty of securing accommodation.

Abdul Hamid al-Saeed (66 years old), one of the players in the championship, told Enab Baladi that one of the biggest challenges in organizing the championship was holding it on a single day, Friday, which coincides with Friday prayers and is the only day off in the week for many players.

Al-Saeed mentioned that such championships, when organized outside Syria, require at least three days, as each player has to play seven matches, each lasting no less than an hour, which is mentally exhausting.

Moreover, many players are elderly, and under intense pressure, their vision becomes impaired, potentially leading to lost matches due to not seeing the moves.

Ahmed Dahneen, a referee and a technical committee member of the championship, told Enab Baladi that it was organized with the participation of 30 players from various areas of northern Syria, using the Swiss system over seven rounds.

He explained that in each round, the winner gets one point, a draw gives half a point to each player, and the loser gets no points.

Typically, an al-Dama round includes three matches, with winning a round called a “coffee.” However, the organizers used one match per round due to time constraints, which some players considered unfair and a shortcoming in organization.

Dahneen explained that organizing the championship requires special electronic software to calculate move levels and player points, but the person with the program had a malfunctioning device. Therefore, they enlisted international referee Khaled Ajaj from Kuwait, who organized the championship and calculated the points to announce the winners.

A traditional game

The game of al-Dama is common in many Syrian provinces and is closely linked to popular heritage. It is played on a chessboard, with each player having 16 pieces, taking turns to move their pieces.

Abdul Hamid al-Saeed (66 years old) has been playing al-Dama for 54 years, learned it from his grandfather and father, and has passed it on to his children. He still plays it today and loves meeting new players, even if it requires traveling long distances.

In the past, the family would gather in the “oda” (a large room or diwan for family and relatives). After finishing conversations or resolving family issues, the attendees would play al-Dama in the evening, where competitions and enthusiasm would increase, according to al-Saeed.

Al-Saeed added that he used to travel frequently to play al-Dama in various Syrian provinces and even traveled to Lebanon to play with professional players.

He explained that interest in the game is not as it was before. The long years of war have exhausted the citizens, and financial constraints and inability to travel have prevented many from moving around.

Athletes in various sports face financial difficulties and lack of support, with many unable to participate due to the costs of traveling to the championship location and their constant preoccupation with searching for their livelihood.