Home Chess News The 2024 Namibian National Chess Championship

The 2024 Namibian National Chess Championship

March 31, 2024

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The Bank Windhoek 2024 Namibian National Chess Championship

The 2024 Namibian National Chess Championship ended last week with Heskeil Ndahangwapo and Lutopu Khoa being crowned the Open and the Ladies Champion, respectively.

The defending champion, Heskeil Ndahangwapo, ended the event with 7.5 points out of nine rounds, while Lutopu Khoa scored seven points.

WCM Jolly-Joice Nepando, the 2023 Ladies defending champion, ended up in third place with six points.

CM Charles Eichab who is an eight time Namibian National Chess Champion in action. He ended up as runners-up in the 2024 edition. — CM Charles Eichab who is an eight time Namibian National Chess Champion in action. He ended up as runners-up with seven points in the 2024 edition.

The event served a dual purpose: crowning the national champions and selecting the team to represent Namibia in the Chess Olympiad, which will take place in Budapest, Hungary, in September 2024.

Regrettably, Namibia’s top-ranked player IM Dante Beukes, with a formidable rating of 2235, was unable to participate due to his commitment to his university studies.

The nine-round event, which took place at the Nictus Cultural Centre in the capital, Windhoek, from 22nd to 26th March 2024, was sponsored by the Bank of Windhoek.

Bernhard Swhwarz (left) who was placed third with 6.5 points taking on Max Baron Nitzborn who scored four points and ended fifth in the ranking. Both players have qualified for the Olympiad Team.

WCM Jamie-Nicole Beukes who was runners-up in the 2024 edition with seven points and who will be part of the Olympiad Team.

Keisha Van Wyk in action. She scored four points and ended 7th in the ranking.

Game Corner

Olympiad Team Composition

Men’s (Open) National Team – 2024:

1. NM Heskiel Ndahangwapo (Gold medal).
2. CM Charles Eichab (Silver medal).
3. Bernhard Schwarz (Bronze medal).
4. NM Goodwill Khoa.
5. NM Max Baron Nitzborn.

Women’s National Team – 2024

1. NM Luopu Khoa (Gold medal).
2. WCM Jamie-Nicole Beukes (Silver medal).
3. WCM Jolly-Joice Nepando (Bronze medal).
4. Celeste Swartz.
5. WFM Rauha Shipindo-Mulisa.

B Section

In the B-Section which was open to all players, the following players took podium places;

B-Section Open:

1. Silas Nghipandulwa (Finished with 7 points out of 9 rounds and has earned himself a direct spot in the 2025 National Closed Championship).

2. Stefan Becker (Silver medal).

3. Junior Nafimane Heita (Bronze medal).

Best Male Junior in B-Section:

Fidel Boois (Gold medal)

B-Section Women:

1. Shadah Uanguta (Was the only player throughout the tournament to finish with 8 points out of 9 rounds. She only lost the last round. She also earned herself a direct spot in the 2025 National Closed Championship).

2. Vekuaterua Kaimu (Silver medal).

3. Maxine Jeanine Hoabes (Bronze medal).

Best Female Junior in B-Section :

Iyaloo Hamutumwa (Gold medal).