In a move that has sent shockwaves through the local sporting community, Liberia’s most decorated female chess player, Abigail Karyah, is notably absent from the Liberia Chess Federation’s (LCF) ongoing 2025 National Championship.This marks the first time in over six years that the former champion has not featured in the country’s premier chess tournament. As of press time, both Karyah and the LCF have remained silent regarding the reasons behind her withdrawal, leaving fans and analysts speculating on the cause.A Blow to the 2026 Olympiad Squad.
The implications of her absence extend far beyond the national stage. By missing the 2025 championship, Karyah has effectively disqualified herself from representing Liberia at the 2026 World Chess Olympiad.Karyah has been a cornerstone of the national team, having anchored Team Liberia during both the 2022 and 2024 Olympiads. Her absence leaves a significant void in the roster for the upcoming international cycle.Karyah’s reputation as a continental powerhouse was solidified during the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.
There, she etched her name into the history books by becoming the first female African player to win her first five consecutive games at the event.During her historic run, she took down formidable opponents from Americas, Brazil, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago,In Africa: South Africa, in Asia/Oceania: South Korea and Vanuatu.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.
