Monrovia, Liberia – Abigail Karyah, the most accomplished female chess player in Liberia, is noticeably missing from the Liberia Chess Federation’s (LCF) ongoing 2025 National Championship, a decision that has shocked the local sports community.
The former champion has not participated in the nation’s top chess event for the first time in more than six years. Fans and experts are left to speculate as to why Karyah withdrew, as neither she nor the LCF have provided an explanation as of the time of this publication.
Her absence has consequences that extend beyond the national arena. Karyah has practically excluded herself from competing for Liberia in the 2026 World Chess Olympiad by missing the 2025 tournament.
Karyah, who led Team Liberia in the 2022 and 2024 Olympiads, has been a vital member of the national squad. There is a big hole on the roster for the next international cycle due to her removal.
Karyah’s standing as a continental powerhouse was cemented in Budapest, Hungary, during the 2024 Olympiad. She became the first female African player to win her first five games in a row in the tournament, making history there.
During her remarkable lead, she defeated strong opponents from Asia/Oceania (South Korea and Vanuatu), Africa (South Africa), and the Americas (Brazil, Panama, and Trinidad & Tobago).
Her dominant performance in Hungary cemented her status as one of Africa’s greatest female players, making her sudden disappearance from the competitive circuit all the more baffling.
Reported by: Albert M. Fania
