Chess qualifiers done and dusted
The Namibia Chess Federation (NCF) recently hosted the National Chess Qualifiers in the capital, showcasing impressive strategic brilliance and tactical prowess as participants competed for a coveted spot in the Namibia National Chess Championships closed event.The top five players from both the men's and women's categories secured qualification for the National Team for 2024-2025.
The intense competition comprised a seven-round Classical Chess Tournament, attracting both u/20 and senior players seeking qualification and international ratings.
The Open section witnessed fierce battles, with Jossy Uapingene, Christopher Ndoroma, Goodwill Khoa, Simon Hatwiikulipi, and Max Nitzborn emerging as the top five in the men's division, while in the women’s section, Keisha van Wyk, Jamie-Nicole Beukes, Celeste Swartz, Patience Tsuses and Linekela Itembu claimed the coveted spots.
These players will now face the highest-rated player, the winner of Section B in 2023, and the top three players of 2023 for a chance to represent Namibia at the 2024 International Chess Federation Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, in September 2024.
Sponsored by Bank Windhoek, the qualifiers are part of the financial institution's commitment to fostering excellence in chess within the country. The bank’s Jacquiline Pack highlighted chess as a powerful tool for enhancing thinking and analytic skills, crucial for intellectual growth.
NCF president Goodwill Khoa thanked Bank Windhoek for its continuous support in promoting chess excellence. He anticipates fierce competition in the National Chess Championships Closed event, leading to the formation of a formidable national team for the upcoming international chess circuit.
The event saw representation from the Khomas, Erongo, //Kharas, Oshana, Otjozondjupa and Omusati regions.