A recent incident has caused controversy in the world of chess, as a man disguised himself as a woman and entered the Kenya Open Chess Championship. The tournament is a highly competitive event that attracts players from around the world, including some of the top African players. Despite gaining little press coverage initially, the incident became a global sensation once it was discovered that ‘Millicent Awour’, the disguised man, had been beating top-level players in the women’s section.
The individual, Stanley Omondi, had concealed his identity by wearing a burka and glasses, which initially didn’t arouse any suspicion. However, as he started to beat high-level opponents, including former national champion Gloria Jumba and top Ugandan player Ampaira Shakira, officials began to grow suspicious. Ultimately, a pair of shoes gave him away, but bizarrely officials allowed him to continue playing until the fourth round, out of fear of being accused of profiling due to the religious garb he was wearing.
