A group of Liberian Chess Players, under the banner “Players for the Reelection of President Weah” has joined the awareness campaign for retaining the regime, with the hosting of the Check18 Chess Tournament in Monrovia.
The group of professionals from different sectors of the Liberian society claims to have seen its interests protected and decided to campaign, in order to have the Weah-Taylor administration in power for another six years, based on reported development in the history of the game.
The tournament has brought together over 100 chess players at the Chevron Park In central Monrovia, to compete for 40 different prizes in open section, women, youth, and senior categories. The process, which started on August 24, 2023, yesterday witnessed a raise in momentum for chess, as many young players and followers of the game converged at the event.
The President of the Liberia Chess Federation, Thomas Karyah, said the lovers and players of chess have seen it necessary to raise an awareness on what the government of Liberia has done, during its time in power, to improve and promote the game across the world.
Speaking to journalists at the Park, Karyah said Chess as a sport has experienced major development and support from government in molding the minds of young Liberians, as well as representing the country in international and regional tournaments.
According to him, the administration of the day has prioritized their interest and placed them at a point of positive growth, for which all players have now decided to pay courtesy, extending appreciations through the Check18 Chess Tournament.
He disclosed that more than 40 prizes will be awarded to players participating in the event. Thomas explained that the organizing committee deemed it very essential to put value on all parts of the game like other sports, to reward players in the most satisfactory manner.
The President of the Chess Federation stressed that over the years, other highly rated competitions around the region have not featured the number of players the Check18 Chess Tournament is hosting now, which he said suggests that the game of chess is fully appreciated by the government of Liberia, and wants to maintain the Coalition for Democratic Change at the Presidency for the next six years.
“We are happy for this government’s support to the game of Chess in Liberia. This administration has sponsored our workings at the Federation and supported our participation in several international competitions around the world and the West African region, that is why we want to maintain them, for the good of our game,” he said.
