By S. Siapha Mulbah
For the second time in the history of National County Sports Meet, Liberia was able to hold another edition of Chess discipline at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex this year bringing together young chess players to showcase their intellectual ability.
The Liberia Chess Federation in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports was able to hold the two-day event during the heat of the final stages of the physical component namely football, kickball and basketball.
Speaking at the kickoff during the starting rounds of the chess battles, Thomas Karyah who heads the federation as president revealed that the County Meet event is the most talked about sporting event across the country therefore the opportunity for citizens to spread love and unity becomes easy during such time.
Karyah said football, kickball and basketball are all physical sports that claim the attention of thousands of sport lovers but that chess develops the mind and thinking ability of characters involved.
“This is the second edition of the County Meet chess ever and we are pleased to work with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to be part of this festival that we all love and cherish as Liberians,” he said.
He also disclosed that the Ministry of Youth and Sports has promised to present cash and trophy to the top three winners of the competition.
The federation recorded the participation of fourteen counties in the event with the exception of Montserrado County. According to the organizers, players in the chess category of the County Meet chose to go for their counties of origin thus leaving Montserrado without prepared and strong players.
In a rapid competition at a time of two minutes plus five, the team represented by Maryland County emerged as the champion after winning Grand Bassa in the Final Sunday Evening.
The Marylanders won one of the competition’s most favorite in the grand final Grand Bassa by a score of 3:1 On Board 1. Chess Master Anthony Waylea (Maryland) kept on the excellent performance by defeating Fide Master Barcon Harmon in style. The former champion sacrificed his Two Bishops like Makhail Tal would do, giving Maryland the lead early on. This was followed by Leroy Debblay win on Board three. Leroy also demonstrated a perfect record, winning all his games. All eyes turned to Board four as Bennie Debblay defeated a former National Champion of Liberia, James Stephen Tondo, to secure the team’s win. This was an overall team effort.
