It was a daring gambit by the 25-year-old Kenyan chess participant to disguise himself as a girl to compete in his nation’s feminine open chess event.
Dressed head to toe in a burka and sporting spectacles, Stanley Omondi had registered himself as Millicent Awour.
However Omondi’s daring transfer was uncovered because the organisers obtained suspicious by the unknown participant’s success.
In his defence, he later wrote in an apologetic letter seen by the BBC that he had “monetary wants”.
He additionally stated that he was “prepared to just accept all penalties”. Omondi didn’t reply to the BBC’s request for remark.
Chess Kenya president Bernard Wanjala stated that whereas he was more likely to get a ban of “a number of years”, he wouldn’t be excluded from chess for ever.
“We did not have any suspicion at first, as a result of sporting a hijab is regular,” Wanjala informed BBC Sport Africa.
“However alongside the way in which, we observed he received towards very robust gamers… and it will likely be unlikely to have a brand new one who has by no means performed a event [being very strong].”
His footwear and the truth that Omondi didn’t converse added to considerations.
“One of many purple flags we additionally observed [was] the sneakers, he was sporting extra masculine sneakers, than female,” Wanjala stated.
“We additionally observed he was not speaking, even when he got here to gather his tag, he could not converse, ordinarily, if you find yourself taking part in, you converse to your opponent… as a result of taking part in a chess sport will not be battle its friendship.”
Regardless of their reservations, officers allowed him to proceed, afraid they could be accused of profiling due to the non secular apparel and solely ejected him within the fourth spherical.
“When he superior, after he received a really robust match and we known as him, he was not shocked,” based on Wanjala.
“He acknowledged that certainly he’s a person. He regrets what occurred, apologised and stated he was solely doing that as a result of he had monetary difficulties and thought successful the title will assist him overcome.”
The Kenya Open, which was held final week, is an annual competitors primarily based within the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
This yr’s version attracted over 400 gamers from 22 international locations. Ninety-nine have been registered within the girls’s class the place the winner would take residence over $3,000 (£2,400).
Omondi is a recognized chess participant, however Wanjala believes he thought his odds could be higher within the girls’s class given the upper normal of play within the males’s a part of the event.
Whereas Kenya’s chess federation has handled instances of age dishonest earlier than, this sort of fraud is a primary of its type.
The case has been referred to the physique’s disciplinary committee which is predicted to provide a ruling within the subsequent couple of days.
“It’s an excessive case, the decision could embody a ban. I rule out a life ban, however he could also be given a number of years’ ban from taking part in chess,” Wanjala defined.
The case can even be referred to the worldwide federal, he added.
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