Angula wins Oshana Open
Rubinstein Chess Academy player emerges victorious
The seven-round event took place on 28 May at the Namcol Centre in Ongwediva, with 13-year-old Sibusiso Angula obtaining a perfect score.
At a recently-held seven-round chess competition, 13-year-old Sibusiso Angula obtained a perfect score of 7/7. During that impressive run, he beat current women's national champion Rauha Mulisa in round five.
In the deciding seventh round, Angula walked away with bragging rights by ousting former national champion Penda Frans Dennis.
Sibusiso is currently the Namibian under-14 champion, having previously held the titles of national under-10 and under-12 champ in the last four years.
Since signing up at the Rubinstein Chess Academy in 2018, the youngster has gone on to represent the country at the 2018 African Youth Chess Championships in Kisumu, Kenya.
Later that year, he flew the Namibian flag high at the World Cadet Chess Championships in Weifang, China.
The following year, he was part of a contingent that went to the African Schools Individual Chess Championships in Limpopo, South Africa, where he scooped a bronze medal in the championships.
Youngest winner
Following his performance at the Oshana Open, Angula becomes the youngest winner of the prestigious tournament, following in the footsteps of Silas Nghipandulwa (2019 winner), 'Champion of the North’ Toivo Nangula (2017 and 2018 winner) and that of multiple Namibian Olympian Otto Nakapunda (2015 and 2016 winner) to take the floating trophy home.
Coach and founder of Rubinstein Chess Academy, Israel Shilongo, sang the young chess player's praises.
“We believe that this young man is ready to put Namibia on the map. If finances allow, he has personal rights to represent Namibia at the African Youth Chess Championships in Lusaka, Zambia, from 2 to 10 July as well as the World Youth Chess Championships in Mamaia, Romania, from 5 to 18 September this year.
“We have no doubt in his capabilities to perform beyond expectations and if the right sponsors come through, it will be brilliant,” he said.
Other winners of the Oshana Open:
Open category:
1. Sibusiso Angula
2. Frans Dennis Penda
3. Marlon van Rooney
Women's category:
1. Rauha Mulisa
2. Rebecca Arbiter
3. Tangy Selma Thomas
Junior category:
1. Findano Haiduwa
2. Abraham Shapange
3. Sean Chembe
Cadet category:
1. Mariska Greyling
2. Cyril Dumbura
3. Matti Haipinge