Zone 8 qualifiers proceed to Windhoek

Chess
The tournament was a ticket to the national championships and, ultimately, the world stage.
Mariud Ngula
  • 3 Weeks Ago 13 February 2025
Namibia Chess Federation’s (NCF) Zone 8 hosted its inaugural Bank Windhoek School Chess individual qualifier at Rundu Secondary School last weekend.

The annual competition saw 34 learners from Kavango East’s Jafet Haiyambo Primary School, Sarusungu Combined School, Ndama Combined School, Friendly Private School, Rudolf Ngondo Primary School and Zealous Tutorial Centre test their strategic brilliance for a chance to compete at the national event.

Winners of the National School Chess Individual Championship will advance to represent the country at the World School Chess Championships from 19 to 29 March in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia, and later at the Africa Schools Chess Championships from 22 to 29 May in Mombasa, Kenya.

The individual qualifiers were

U19 girls: 1 Kamati Grace (Rundu Secondary School), 2 Kavhura Stephania (Rundu Secondary School), 3 Lucian Emma (Sarusungu Combined School).

U19 boys: 1 Kandjendje Leevi (Zealous Tutorial Centre), 2 Kaudu Job (Rundu SS), 3 Siwoko Jacob (Ndama Combined School).

U17 girls: 1 Alpo Frieda (Friendly Private School), 2 Gariseb Rene (Sarusungu Combined School).

U17 boys: 1 Mbabi Simon (Rundu SS), 2 Katanga Jafet (Rundu SS), 3 Likuwa Paulus (Rundu SS).

U15 boys: 1 Moyo Simon (Jafet Haiyambo PS), 2 Kameya Andreas (Sarusungu Combined School), 3 Hamupembe George (Sarusungu CS).

U13 boys: 1 Manuel Elias (Jafet Haiyambo PS), 2 Pascal Andre (Rundu SS), 3 Marungu Andreas (Jafet Haiyambo PS).

U11 boys: Thindhimba Mathias (Ngondo Primary School).



‘Witnessed wonders’

Rundu chess community president Kawende Petrus Glen told Sport Wrap: “This was the first time Zone 8 took part in the tournament. The zone includes the Kavango East and West regions; however, only Kavango East participated.”

He said the competition delivered wonderful performances, including the tiebreaker needed before Leevi edged out following a tie against Elias.

“In the girls’ section, Grace (U19) proved to be a threat to be reckoned with. She outplayed all her opponents and then tied with Stephania, and the two were only separated by tiebreakers.”

Glen expressed hope for more participants in future competitions. “Our hopes are set on our players who qualified for the closed championships in Windhoek. The honour of the Kavango Region is in their hands,” he remarked.

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