Eleven year old Nicola Tjironda and fifteen year old Julian Isaak took top prizes at the just ended Third Bank Windhoek Namibia National Junior Chess Championship held at David Bezuidenhout High School in Windhoek.
The championship was held under the auspices of Namibia Chess Federation (NCF) from 23 to 25 July.
The annual event saw invited players younger than 20 years competing. Tjironda began playing chess two years ago and is described by Max Nitzborn, the President of NCF, as a natural talent and Julian Isaak has been playing for the past four years.
“Chess interest is growing at an alarming, yet exciting rate. We are seeing more and more scholars taking it as a sport and they are serious, so serious that they sacrifice whole weekends to partake in the tournaments,” Nitzborn said.
“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 have not made it this far”, Nitzborn added.
The Head of Corporate Communication and Social Investment, Riaan van Rooyen was very impressed by the turn out for the event.
“The turnout for the 3rd Bank Windhoek Namibia National Junior Chess Championship 2010 is an indication that the sport, which engages and sharpens cognitive skills, is becoming popular in schools and youths are developing an interest in it,” Van Rooyen said.
“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”, Van Rooyen added.
Lischen Mentile was second in the girls’ section followed by Dolly Tuaandi in third place. In the boys section Hange Tjingaete was second and Dantago Boois third.
The tournament was hosted to promote chess as an intellectual, educational, and recreational sporting outlet for youth and the broader Namibian population. It was also held to improve the level of junior chess in the country.