Bobby Ballah crowned 2021 Liberia National Chess Champion
Bobby Ballah is the 2021 Liberian National Chess Champion. He won the event with 7.5 points out of 9 rounds to go home with LRD 75,000 (approximately USD 500).
Arnold Smith and 2019 defending Champion Thomas Saah were in joint second place with 7 points. Arnold Smith, however, had a better tie-break to give him the runners up position.
About 50 players registered for the event, which ran from 16th to 24th December 2021 at the 72nd Boulevard, Paynesville, Montserrado.
The critical round of the event was the penultimate 8th round.
FM Harmon Barcon, the 2016 Liberian National Champion, led the event at the end of round 7 and seemed sure to win his second title.
A painful loss to David Leroy Debblay in round 8 saw Bobby Ballah grab the lead with his decisive victory against 2019 Champion Thomas Saah. Bobby Ballah then just had to draw his final game against David Leroy Debblay to capture his maiden national title.
FM Harmon Barcon also lost his 9th round encounter against Arnold Smith to score 6 points to end in joint 4th position.
The 2018 Liberian National Champion, James Tondo, obtained 6.5 points to end in joint third place.
Bobby Ballah v Charles Haji
Bobby Balla v James Tondo
Thomas Saah v Bobby Ballah
Past Champions of Liberia
2019 – Thomas Saah
2018 – James Tondo
2016 – Barcon Harmon
Interesting facts about Liberia
Liberia began as a settlement of the American Colonisation Society, who believed black people would face better chances for freedom and prosperity in Africa than in the United States.
The country declared its independence on 26th July 1847.
Liberia is the only African republic to have self-proclaimed independence without gaining independence from any other power. It is also Africa’s first and oldest modern republic.
Liberia has more ships registered under a flag of convenience than any other country except Panama.
About 12 per cent of the world’s ships fly the flag of Liberia.
Monrovia is the capital city of Liberia.
Christianopolis was the capital city of Liberia. The name changed later to Monrovia after James Monroe, a former president of the United States.
Links
2021 Liberian National Chess Championship on chess-results.com.
Thomas Saah is crowned 2019 Liberia National Chess Champion.
