Three sisters, One goal

CHESS
Phillipus Josef
  • 5 Months Ago
This year, three talented sisters from Swakopmund, Amelia (13), Annelise (12), and Angelique Brown (9) earned spots on the national team for the first time last month, competing against elite youth players from other African countries at the African Youth Chess Championships in South Africa.

In the U-10 competition, Angelique ranked 17th out of 40 participants, while Amelia secured 33rd place out of 42 players in the U-14 category.

Annelise was the top-performing sister and Namibia’s best overall performer, finishing fifth in the U-13 category.

Amelia

The eldest among her sisters, she reflected on her chess career thus far. "I started taking chess seriously after being introduced to it as a subject in school. My coach and parents encouraged me to participate in more tournaments and practice diligently," she said.

Amelia's training sessions are now individual, with occasional group sessions on weekends where the sisters play mini-tournaments against each other. Balancing her busy schedule, she uses a planner to manage her activities.

Despite the challenges, Amelia remains motivated. "Losing games can be demotivating, but I remind myself that every loss is a lesson," she said.

Her favourite chess players include her coach, Ims, and Namibian International Master Dante Biakas. Amelia advises other girls to start playing chess early, never give up, and always practice. Looking ahead, she aims to represent Namibia in future world championships and hopes to earn a chess title.

Angelique

At her age, Angelique has already shown immense potential. She fondly remembers the opening ceremony of the African Youth Chess Championships, where the performances left a lasting impression.

Her parents play a crucial role in her chess career, supporting her tournament participation and weekly lessons. "What stood out to me the most was the opening ceremony because of the performances and all the energy with the drums they had," she said.

Before games, Angelique uses breathing techniques and recites psalms to stay calm. "It helps me relax because big championships can be nerve-wracking. I recite Bible verses in my head to calm down, close my eyes, and try to relax," she stated.

Her biggest challenge has been overcoming losses to older players, but she now often emerges victorious.

Annelise

Her love for chess began in 2020. "My mom encouraged me to join a chess club, and my coach helped me improve through simple puzzles and tactics," she explained.

A highlight of her chess career was defeating three FIDE-rated players at the African Youth Chess Championships, earning her a classical rating of 1619. Her parents' support has been invaluable, covering the costs of lessons and tournaments. Her future goals include representing Namibia again and achieving a chess title.

Their father, Andrew Brown stated that he is proud of the progress his girls had made over the years and what he looks forward to seeing them achieve.

"Nice to see their characters maturing through chess. Used to be a lot of nerves and tears if they lost. Now they are fearless and take everything in their stride.

I Hope they go on to fulfil their dreams and make plenty of friends, while having fun along the way," he noted.