Monrovia – On Thursday, July 20, 2023, the Liberia Chess Federation (LCF) joined the global celebration of International Chess Day with an exciting outdoor program in Monrovia and its surrounding areas.
By: Christopher C. Walker [email protected] 0777898224/0886723075
International Chess Day, observed annually on July 20 worldwide, brought together chess enthusiasts from Montserrado County for a public training session organized by the local federation. The event aimed to attract both seasoned chess players and those eager to learn the sport.
Under the theme “Each one teaching one,” this year’s International Chess Day celebration saw chess players dedicating the day to evangelize and encourage young people, especially females, to view chess as a valuable tool for mental development and preparation for life’s challenges. LCF President, Mr. Thomas Karyah, expressed the initiative to introduce chess to a broader audience, including non-chess players.
“Chess is not just a game; it’s a professional sport that offers young people educational and career opportunities beyond traditional sports,” emphasized Mr. Karyah, highlighting the potential benefits chess can provide for the youth in Liberia.
The celebration of International Chess Day traces back to 1966 when UNESCO proposed the idea, and since then, member federations around the world have commemorated the occasion. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) itself was established on July 20, 1924, in Paris, France, during the interwar period.
The Liberia Chess Federation (LCF) serves as the governing body for chess in Liberia. Established in 2014, it became an accredited federation of FIDE in the same year, succeeding and replacing the Liberia Chess Association, which had played an unofficial role in promoting and developing chess in Liberia for many years.
The successful event in Monrovia underscores the growing interest and importance of chess as a mind-stimulating sport and its potential to open educational and career pathways for the young generation in Liberia.
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