Ali Thameem
Maldives Chess Association president Nooh Ali has denied allegations of financial misconduct following claims circulating on social media regarding the association’s finances.
Speaking to Sidibari, Nooh denied what he called ‘blatantly false and ‘misleading’ allegations that a huge portion of approximately MVR 1.25 million funds funded to MCA by the government were transferred to his personal bank account over the past thirteen months.
The allegations surfaced with the blog ‘maldiveschessorg‘ publishing a piece indicating transactions on a MCA bank statements dating back to January 2025, alleging irregularities, including the involvement of personal accounts under the name of the MCA president and a member of his family.
Nooh said government funding received by the MCA in 2025 was exclusively used to cover expenses of MCA-affiliated tournaments, and for Maldives national teams representing the country in international tournaments – referring to costs related to three overseas tournaments in 2025. These included the Commonwealth Chess Championship in Malaysia, as well as tournaments held in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
“Any funds received from the government would have been spent on an international tournament trip,” Nooh said, dismissing claims circulating online as false and misleading.
Addressing transfers made to his personal bank account, Nooh said “The money that entered my personal account was money used to buy euros, and for no other purpose,” he claimed. “Ask the parents. They would testify on our behalf.”
Sidibari reached out to a parent of a national athlete, who verified that players were asked to contribute to the MCA bank account for exchange of currencies ahead international tournaments last year – and that MCA returned the contribution to players in the respective foreign currency.
When questioned specifically about the alleged misuse of funds provided to the MCA by the Ministry of Finance, Nooh rejected it, saying “That is false. That is clearly a lie”.
Nooh added that allegations against him and his EXCO lacked context, arguing that a full review of the association’s financial records would resolve the matter.
“If an accusation is based on a bank statement, then it must lead to somewhere,” he said. “If it is a lie, people tend to run with it. But a lie is a lie. Truth will be truth.”
He maintained that the allegations would not stand up to a formal investigation, and said the complete MCA bank statements would absolve both himself and the association.
Nooh Ali has been serving as president of Maldives Chess Association since last year; his second spell as the MCA President, having previously ousted from the position.
