Three Liberian chess players have advanced to the final qualifying round of the 2025 United States Masters Chess League (USMCL) following an intense first-stage qualification held in Monrovia.
The qualification tournament, organized in collaboration with the Liberia Chess Federation (LCF), took place from February 22-23 and featured over twenty players vying for limited slots in the next phase. Emerging victorious in the top three positions were reining Liberia Chess Federation champion Leroy Debblay, FIDE Master Jacob Jallah, and Kennedy Kengo, who all secured their places in the upcoming playoff rounds.
Debblay finished as the overall winner, accumulating eight points from nine games, while Kengo followed closely with seven points. Jallah clinched third place with six points, completing Liberia’s representation in the competition.
According to tournament organizers, recent adjustments were made to the qualification process, altering the format initially provided to participating nations. The top three players from each country will now compete in a continental qualifier, officially named the League Chess Africa (LCA) online qualifier. Additionally, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) from each country will earn the opportunity to represent Kente Royals, the African team officially registered in the USMCL.
Further updates revealed that players participating in the League Chess Africa Qualifier will be financially compensated for their performances. Each match victory will earn players $200, while participation, even in a loss, will be rewarded with $100. Furthermore, the national representative who progresses to the final tournament in the United States will receive a stipend of $2,000 for a one-month stay during the competition.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on Sunday night, Liberia Chess Federation President, Thomas Karyah encouraged the trio to approach the international stage with confidence and determination.
“With God by our side, we are admonishing you to go and represent not just LCF, but Liberia,” Karyah stated.
He further emphasized the importance of the US Master Chess League as a significant opportunity to expand the presence of chess in Liberia, urging the players to seize the moment and showcase their skills at the highest level.
As the next phase approaches, Liberian chess enthusiasts and the sporting community will closely follow the progress of Debblay, Jallah, and Kengo as they strive to make their marks on the international chess stage.
