Monrovia β On September 10, 2024, Liberia joined more than 176 countries to participate in the biennial International Chess Federationβs (FIDE) World Chess Olympiad hosted in Budapest, Hungary. The country fielded two teams consisting of five players and a captain in each of the Open and Women sections of the event.
Unfortunately, mid-event, the country was left utterly embarrassed when two of her registered players: Namely Mr. Barcon Harmon and Mr. Obediah Saah failed to show up to play a scheduled match against Guam.
On further inquiry, it was observed that the players were a part of a quartet abandoning the games and absconding the team hotel to whereabouts unknown to the Liberia Chess Federation (LCF). Other Members of the quartet are, Mr. Thomas Saah and the Women Section captain, Ms. Teta Thompson.
Their actions were immediately reported to the President of the African Confederation of Chess (ACC) for onward transmittal to the host country and FIDE. In addition to these individuals, at the latter stages of the olympiad, the LCF also observed that three other persons had abandoned the team Hotel for whereabouts also unknown. The three are: Mr. Arnold Smith (Player) Mr. Foday Kondoh (Accompany Person), and Mr. Alfred Kollie (Accompany Person).
The LCF herein apologizes to FIDE, the Hungarian Chess Federation, and the African Confederation of Chess for the mindless and shameful actions of its members and players during the 45th World Chess Olympiad, announces their indefinite suspension from the LCF and requests the concerned authorities within Hungary and FIDE to take all appropriate actions against these individuals including ensuring their immediate return to Liberia.
The Leadership of the LCF will cooperate with the Hungarian authorities to ensure that those who have abused their Schengen Visas issued by the Hungarian Embassy in Accra, Ghana, bear the full consequences of their actions as individuals.
As the governing body of Chess in Liberia, the LCF remains committed to socioeconomic development, capacity enhancement, social inclusivity, and the deployment of this noble game as a positive intervening force in the lives of young Liberians.
To the continual development of Chess in Liberia, we remain steadfastly committed.