Only a month after the National Junior Chess Championship 2025, where every participant paid MVR 500 in entry fees and no prize money was awarded to winners, the Maldives Chess Association (MCA) has announced another event, a selection tournament for the Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025, again charging MVR 500 per player.

The move has raised widespread concern among players and parents. Many are asking: If the MCA already has a national junior and senior team, why is another paid selection necessary? What purpose does it serve other than collecting more fees?

Even more troubling, MCA President Nooh Ali himself has reportedly entered to compete in the Above 60 category of the same selection he is organizing. Several senior players view this as a clear conflict of interest, as he holds decision-making power over an event in which he is personally participating.

In the Open category, none of the country’s top players are competing. Their absence is a silent but powerful protest against what many see as a new low for the association. The perception is that weaker players may now represent the Maldives at the Commonwealth Championship, while stronger players and national champions are being sidelined.

For the juniors who paid to compete in the National Junior Championship, receiving neither prize money nor selection benefits, the situation feels deeply unfair. They paid for what was presented as a national-level event but now face another barrier, another MVR 500 fee, to represent their country.

The MCA’s handling of these events calls for serious reflection on transparency, accountability, and ethics in chess governance. The community deserves clarity on where entry fees go, why selections are being duplicated, and how decisions are being made about international representation.