Intense battles mark National Open Championship Qualifiers
Chess
The 2026 Namibia National Open Chess Championship Qualifiers concluded with high-intensity competition, showcasing the growing strength of Namibian chess players.After four demanding days of play, the top five players in both the Open and Women’s sections successfully qualified for the 2026 Namibia National Closed Chess Championships, where they will face the elite pre-qualified players for a place in the national team.
Qualified players – Open Section
The following players secured qualification from the Open Qualifiers:
(1) Simon Hatwiikulipi Shidolo
(2) Dawid du Toit
(3) CM Otto Nakapunda
(4) Bernhard Schwarz
(5) Louis van Rooyen
They will compete against five automatic qualifiers:
FIDE Master (FM) Heskiel Ndahangwapo – 2025 national champion.
Candidate Master (CM) Goodwill Khoa – 2025 runner-up.
Petrus Kawende – Third place.
Stefan Becker – 2025 B-Section Winner.
International Master (IM) Dante Beukes – highest FIDE-rated Namibian player as of 1 January 2026.
Qualified players – Women’s Section
The top five women from the Qualifiers are:
(1) Keisha van Wyk
(2) Shadah Uanguta
(3) Juliet Elias
(4) WFM Rauha Shipindo
(5) Helvi Shuudifonya
They join the following automatic qualifiers:
WCM Jamie-Nicole Beukes – 2025 national women’s champion.
Lutopu Khoa – 2025 runner-up.
WCM Jolly-Joice Nepando – third place.
Maryke Mouers – 2025 B-Section winner.
Since WCM Jamie-Nicole Beukes is also the highest FIDE-rated Namibian female player as of 1 January 2026, the Namibia Chess Federation’s national selection criteria allows for an additional qualifier from the Open Master List. As a result, Toini Tuyakula Lesheni Shikongo completes the 10-player women’s field.
Road to the Olympiad
The 2026 Namibia National Closed Chess Championships, scheduled from 24 February to 1 March, will determine the five-player national team that will represent Namibia at the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan in September this year.
Gruelling and high-quality tournament
The just-completed National Open Qualifiers proved to be exceptionally demanding. Days 2 and 3 were particularly gruelling, testing not only the players’ chess abilities but also their endurance, discipline, and physical and mental strength.
The standard of play was consistently high, with strong fighting spirit evident in every round – clear proof of the continued growth and competitiveness of chess in Namibia.
Juniors shine bright
A special word of praise goes to the junior players, who performed exceptionally well throughout the tournament. In particular, Dawid du Toit delivered a standout performance, finishing second overall in the Open Section and gaining an impressive 191 international FIDE rating points, marking one of the most significant rating jumps of the event.
Looking Ahead
With established masters, rising juniors, and returning national champions set to compete side by side, the 2026 Namibia National Closed Chess Championship promise to be one of the most exciting and competitive editions in recent years.
The stage is set for a thrilling battle for national selection, and for Namibia’s next chapter on the international chess stage.