Monrovia – The 2024 National Chess Championship (Classical Edition), which was postponed in December 2024 due to financial and administrative challenges, officially commenced last weekend on Friday, May 2, 2025, at the Liberia Chess Federation (LCF) headquarters on 9th Street in Sinkor, Monrovia.
The championship began with an exhibition match between Mr. Anthony Cassell Kuoh, a sponsor of the event, and David Leroy Debblay, the reigning national chess champion. Mr. Kuoh won the friend match after showcasing skills he said he learned and honed when he served prison time in the United States. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Chess Championship, Mr. Kuoh pledged financial support to the Liberia Chess Federation and promised to sponsor the winner of the ongoing championship to represent Liberia in the 2025 African Individual Chess Championships scheduled to take place in Egypt later this month.
After 5 rounds of classical chess over the weekend, former champion Bobby leads the table with a perfect score of 5 points out of 5 games which include a “come-back” win from a terrible position against his fellow former champion James Tondo in Round 4. Bobby Ballah will face his toughest challenge on Tuesday after the rest day when he meets Liberia’s current chess champion David Leroy Debblay in Round 6.
Event: 2024 Liberia National Chess Championship (Open Classical)
Dates: May 2–9, 2025
Venue: LCF Headquarters, Sinkor, Monrovia
Format: 9-round Swiss system
Time Control: 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move 1
Rounds Played: 5 of 9
Next Round: Round 6 on Tuesday, May 6 at 5:00 PM
Standings After Round 5
According to the official standings, the top players after Round 5 are:
Bobby Ballah – 5.0 points (perfect score)
David Leroy Debblay – 4.0 points
CM Kolliemelen Daniel – 3.5 points
M. Wawoe Joe – 3.5 points
James Tondo – 3.0 points
Tournament Overview and Progress Report
Other notable players with 3.0 points include Archie Dayyeah, Harold Evans, Kennedy Zinnah Kengo, Jamal J. Ghoson, Jerrus Diggs, FM Jacob Jallah, and Miller Moore.
For detailed standings and pairings, refer to the official Chess-Results page.
Highlights from the weekend of classical chess
Bobby Ballah’s Dominance
Former two-time national champion Bobby Ballah has showcased exceptional form, securing victories in all five rounds. His notable wins include matches against Kennedy Kengo, James Bedell, Archie Dayyeah and James Tondo, solidifying his position at the top of the leaderboard.
Emerging Contenders
David Leroy Debblay, the 2023 national champion, trails closely with 4.0 points. His consistent performance keeps him in contention for the title. CM Kolliemelen Daniel and M. Wawoe Joe are also in the mix with 3.5 points each, demonstrating the competitive nature of the championship.
Live Game Broadcasts
The championship’s games are being broadcast live, allowing enthusiasts to follow the action in real-time. Rounds 1 to 5 games can be replayed with full board analysis on Lichess. For the first time, an exclusive media room has been set up by the organizers for live broadcast, commentaries and hybrid discussion of the games by spectators and fans who are online and at the playing venue on 9th Street. Broadcast video can be found on the LCF’s Facebook page and the USMCL’s YouTube Channel.
Upcoming up after the rest day
The tournament takes a brief pause today and will resume with Round 6 on Tuesday, May 6 at 5:00 PM. With four rounds remaining, the competition remains fierce, and the title is still up for grabs.
The Liberia Chess Federation (LCF) has expanded the championship to include new categories, such as the Cadet Category for players under 12 and the Senior Category for players aged 50 and above. This initiative aims to foster inclusivity and nurture talent across different age groups. LCF President Thomas Karyah emphasized the importance of these additions in promoting the growth of chess in Liberia.
In the Women’s edition, the eagerly anticipated match between former 3 times champion Abigail Karyah and current champion Georgina Sackie has been postponed to a later date due to Abigail’s engagement with secondary school final examinations.
The championship is scheduled to conclude on Friday, May 9, 2025, which will be followed by the federation’s 8th General Assembly (10-11 May, 2025). The Closing and Awards Ceremony for this chess championship will take place at the federation’s office on Sunday, May 11, after the General Assembly and the Chess Clubs Team Championship.
