By S. Siapha Mulbah
Nearly 20 Liberian Chess players are currently gearing up to host foreign opponents in the West African region for the first time at the West African Chess Championship, officially known as Zone 4.2
The Liberia Chess Federation is the official host for the regional event that will get underway this weekend at the Creed Lounge in Marshall City, Margibi County, with players from different West African countries visiting for participation in the internationally recognized event.
Being the host for the International Chess Federation Zone 4.2 competition, the Liberia Chess Federation has confirmed that nearly 20 local players will have the opportunity to play and they all are going to show up to defend the red, white, and blue of the Lone Star based on their record of performance and current ranking with the world chess governing body.
Activities leading to the regional event start today in Monrovia, with the arrival of official delegations from Cape Verde, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo, among others.
Thursday, May 9, 2024 will be the official arrival day at a colorful ball ceremony. A technical meeting will be held with all parties related to the competition on Friday, May 10, along with one round of games the same day.
The rest of the West African Chess Championship will be played in the course of the week. Round nine, which is the last and final round, will play on May 17, at the same venue in Marshall with a closing ceremony.
The local organizing committee and the Liberian Chess governing body noted that Marshall city was designated to enable the players take total ownership of the game’s environment and find a space for concentration because Chess is a board game that requires maximum focus.
According to the Federation, those from Liberia that will participate in the competition are some of the big names in the local chess community and they will have other recognized opponents from the international community. The West African Chess Championship in Liberia will witness the participation of the current women’s champion and open session champion of the last edition of the National Chess Championship.
Champions, Leroy Debblay, Liberia’s current National Champion, Georgina Sackie, women’s champion, along with other former champions, Thomas Saah, Abigail Karyah, Fide Master Jacob Jallah, are all on the list to make a milestone for Liberia.
Other ranking players on the Liberian team are John Jallah, Daniel Kolliemene, Anthony Waylea, Harold Evans, Foday Kondoh, Richmond Yarkpah, Alfred Kollie, Miller Moore, Joel Ebiekuta, Wallace Williams, Archie Dayyeah, Alfred Kollie, and Prince Jegbadai.
