In what is seen as unprecedented in the history of Kenyan Chess, a 25-year-old Kenyan chess player, Stanley Omondi, caused a stir when he disguised himself as a woman named Millicent Awour to participate in his country’s female open chess tournament.
Omondi donned a burka and eyeglasses to conceal his identity, but his success raised suspicions among the organisers. In an apologetic letter seen by News Central, Omondi cited financial needs as his motivation for the dishonest move and expressed willingness to accept the consequences.
Chess Kenya President Bernard Wanjala revealed that Omondi is likely to face a ban of several years, but may not be excluded from chess permanently. The judges initially had no suspicions as wearing a hijab is common in Kenya.
However, concerns were raised when Omondi won against strong players, his footwear appeared masculine, and he did not speak during the tournament. Despite these red flags, Omondi was allowed to continue playing until he was confronted after the fourth round.
He admitted to being a man and expressed regret for his actions, citing financial difficulties as his motivation.
This year, the Kenya Open, an annual chess competition held in Nairobi, attracted over 400 players from 22 countries. Omondi’s case is the first of its kind in Kenya, where the chess federation has previously dealt with cases of age cheating but not this type of fraud.
The case has been referred to the federation’s disciplinary committee, which is expected to render a verdict in the coming days.
