National players selected at NCF junior closed champs

Chess
Finishing in the top five guaranteed players a place on the national team.
Mariud Ngula
  • 21 Hours Ago
The Namibia Chess Federation’s (NCF) Bank Windhoek National Junior Closed Championships saw the top five players across the age categories from under-8 to under-20 qualify for the national team, making them eligible to represent the country at international tournaments.

Hosted by the Coastal Chess Association under the auspices of the NCF, the tournament brought together 104 players from across the country. They gathered at Walvis Bay Gymnasium from Thursday to Sunday to battle it out for national glory.



Champion players

The top three winners across all the age groups were:

U20 open (combined with the women’s section): 1 Junior Heita, 2 Michelangelo Haraseb, 3 Wilhelm Hainghumbi.

U18 open: 1 Tuhafifa Heita, 2 Stefan Becker, 3 Xavier Amutenya.

Girls U18 and U16: 1 Jamie-Nicole Beukes, 2 Siglinde Abraham I, 3 Elahondina Ekandjo.

U16 open: 1 Sibusiso Angula, 2 Shali Itembu, 3 August-John Mungunda.

U14 girls: 1 Annalese Brown, 2 Francis Boshoff, 3 Helen Boshoff.

U14 open: 1 Matthew Kasonde, 2 Pinehas Mweya, 3 Socrates Israel.

U12 girls: 1 Shadah Uanguta, 2 Angelique Latunga Brown, 3 Wellemina Shimanya.

U12 open: 1 Johannes Cronje, 2 James Dien, 3 Virtuous Fufuna.

U10 girls: 1 Carmen Jacobs, 2 Iyaloo Hamutumwa, 3 Rainy Kitada Davids.

U10 open: 1 Daniel du Toit, 2 Frederick Cronje, 3 McDonald Shimanya.

U8 girls: 1 Alexa Yambeko Mapira, 2 Thea de Kock, 3 Jolina Valentina Siremo.

U8 open: 1 Lourens Con Swart, 2 Samuel Binneman, 3 Edward Otate Nadunya.



‘They deserved the wildcard’

Speaking to this publication, tournament director and Coastal Chess Association president Israel Shilongo congratulated the prodigies who made the national team after what he described as a “tough four-day competition”.

He commended those who received wildcards after not qualifying through the open tournament, saying they proved their worth with strong performances.

“We saw players like the Boshoff twins [Francis and Helen] from the under-14 section perform strongly to come second and third, respectively.

“Another brilliant display was by Daniel du Toit in the under-10 category, who had a flawless winning streak throughout the seven rounds,” he said.



More girls players needed

Shilongo expressed concern over the declining number of female participants, particularly from the under-16 category upwards. “We mostly struggle to get more girls on board from this category,” he said.

“Testament to this was just a single female contender in the under-20 category [Helvi Shuudifonya], who had to compete in the open section as a result. If we can have more 14- and 15-year-olds taking part, that would be great.”

He also thanked parents who travelled from across the country to support the players and encouraged players who did not make the top five not to be disheartened. “Keep going and come back stronger next year,” he said.

– mariud@nsh.com.na