WINDHOEK – They call it mind games and the country’s sport authorities could be pardoned for having been playing mind games with the Namibia Chess Federation’s application to become an integral part of the Namibian Sports Commission (NSC).

The Namibia Chess Federation was registered as a sporting discipline in 2005 but could only be recognized as an associate member, as the NOC wanted the new federation to first meet certain requirements.

Although Namibia has in the past participated in various international competitions, it did so without national colours, despite its participation having been sanctioned by the NSC.

Namibia is currently ranked 102 in the world out of 160 chess playing nations in the world.

The federation became a fully-fledged member of the NSC during a special ceremony in Windhoek yesterday.

Namibia is to send a 5-member team to the 39th edition of the two-week Chess Olympiad at Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia – starting on the 20th of this month.

Namibia has participated in seven chess Olympiads to date and has won two silver medals.

This will be her first attempt at the Khanty-Mansiysk in Russia.

The Namibian Brave Knights chess team consists of Charles Eichab, Leonard Mueller, Otto Nakapunda, Max Nitzborn and Simon Shidolo.

Source: http://www.newera.com.na

Chess daily news from Susan Polgar

A team of five players will represent Namibia at the 39th Chess Olympiad scheduled to be held in Khaty-Mansiysk, Russia from 20 September to 4 October.

Max Nitzborn, President of the Namibia Chess Federation (NCF) said that it was the first time that a team was leaving the country to compete with official national colours.

“We registered chess for the first time as a sport in 2005 and today for the first time we receive national colours for international participation,” Nitzborn said, speaking at the National Sports Commission.

The team was selected at the National Chess Championship held earlier this year in April in Windhoek.

“All the top chess players were there and then we selected the top five players from that event,” Nitzborn said.

The team consists of Leonhard Meuller, Max Nitzborn (team captain), Otto Nakapunda, Charles Eichab and Simon Shidolo as the reserve.

“Simon and I are going to compete for the first time and the other three guys have participated in the Olympiad before,” Nitzborn said.

“Our main aim going to the competition is to get medals, hopefully we will be able to do that.”

The team will travel without a team manager due to financial constraints.

“Ideally we would like to travel with a manager, but this year we are unable to do that,” he added.

One of the participants going to Russia, Charles Eichab was very confident about the team’s chances.

“We have a very good team now with a mix that includes up and coming players,” Eichab said.

“We have the capacity to top the category we are in which has between 30 to 40 countries competing. Last time we missed out on the category gold medal by just one point in Dresden,” Eichab continued.

Namibia is ranked 102 out of 160 nations on the World Chess Federation (FIDE) rankings and are eighth on the AFrican continent. They are behind Egypt (48), Algeria (82), South Africa (83), Zimbabwe (84), Tunisia (86), Angola (94), and Uganda (101). Namibia will be playing in the Category 5/E .

This will be the eighth time that Namibia has participated in the Olympiad. Meuller won two silver medals at the 1998 Olympiad in Moscow and the 1998 one in Elista.

At the last three Olympiads, the Open title has been won by Ukraine (2004), and Armenia in 2006 and 2008.

Source: http://www.namibiasport.com.na

Chess daily news from Susan Polgar

A team of five players will represent Namibia at the 39th Chess Olympiad scheduled to be held in Khaty-Mansiysk, Russia from 20 September to 4 October.

Max Nitzborn, President of the Namibia Chess Federation (NCF) said that it was the first time that a team was leaving the country to compete with official national colours.

“We registered chess for the first time as a sport in 2005 and today for the first time we receive national colours for international participation,” Nitzborn said, speaking at the National Sports Commission.

The team was selected at the National Chess Championship held earlier this year in April in Windhoek.

“All the top chess players were there and then we selected the top five players from that event,” Nitzborn said.

The team consists of Leonhard Meuller, Max Nitzborn (team captain), Otto Nakapunda, Charles Eichab and Simon Shidolo as the reserve.

“Simon and I are going to compete for the first time and the other three guys have participated in the Olympiad before,” Nitzborn said.

“Our main aim going to the competition is to get medals, hopefully we will be able to do that.”

The team will travel without a team manager due to financial constraints.

“Ideally we would like to travel with a manager, but this year we are unable to do that,” he added.

One of the participants going to Russia, Charles Eichab was very confident about the team’s chances.

“We have a very good team now with a mix that includes up and coming players,” Eichab said.

“We have the capacity to top the category we are in which has between 30 to 40 countries competing. Last time we missed out on the category gold medal by just one point in Dresden,” Eichab continued.

Namibia is ranked 102 out of 160 nations on the World Chess Federation (FIDE) rankings and are eighth on the AFrican continent. They are behind Egypt (48), Algeria (82), South Africa (83), Zimbabwe (84), Tunisia (86), Angola (94), and Uganda (101). Namibia will be playing in the Category 5/E .

This will be the eighth time that Namibia has participated in the Olympiad. Meuller won two silver medals at the 1998 Olympiad in Moscow and the 1998 one in Elista.

At the last three Olympiads, the Open title has been won by Ukraine (2004), and Armenia in 2006 and 2008.

Source: http://www.namibiasport.com.na

Chess daily news from Susan Polgar

WINDHOEK – The 3rd Bank Windhoek Namibia National Junior Chess Championship, hosted under the auspices of the Namibia Chess Federation, was held from 23 to 25 July 2010, at David Bezuidenhout High School in Windhoek.

Eleven-year-old Nicola Tjaronda and 15-year-old Julian Isaak took top honours in the respective male and female categories.

“The turnout for the Junior Chess Championship is an indication that the sport, which engages and sharpens cognitive skills, is becoming popular in schools and that youth are developing an interest in it.

“Bank Windhoek is proud to support this sport that develops the improvement of scholars and their cognitive skills, at the same time giving them an activity that keeps them entertained and busy,” said Riaan van Rooyen, Head of Corporate Communication and Social Investment at Bank Windhoek.

“Chess interest is growing at an exciting rate. We are seeing more and more scholars taking it as a sport and they are so serious that they sacrifice whole weekends to partake in the tournaments.

“This is of course with the support of their parents that we are thankful to. We are also grateful for Bank Windhoek that really is helping the National Chess Federation to make this a reality. Without them we would not have made it this far,” added Max Nitzborn, president of the Namibia Chess Federation.

The annual Bank Windhoek Namibia National Junior Chess Championship saw invited players under the age of 20 competing.

Nicola Tjaronda, who beat a university student along the way, began playing chess two years ago and is described by Nitzborn as a natural talent, while Isaak has been playing for the past four years.

The rest of the results of the Bank Windhoek Namibia National Junior Chess Championship reads as follows:

Females:

Second was Lischen Mentile, followed by Dolly Tuaandi in third place.

Males: Hange Tjingaete was second and Dantago Boois third.

The ultimate purpose of hosting this particular tournament is to determine the Namibian National Junior Chess Champion for 2010, to promote chess as an intellectual, educational and recreational sporting outlet for youth and the broader Namibian population, and above all, to improve the standard of junior chess in Namibia.

http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=12223

Chess daily news from Susan Polgar