Oliveira, Itembu dominate Oshana Open
Chess
Santos Oliveira and Linekela Itembu were recently crowned champions of the Oshana Open, held by the Namibia Chess Federation’s (NCF) Zone Seven at the University of Namibia’s Hifikepunye Pohamba (HP) Campus.The Bank Windhoek annual thirteenth Grand Prix event featured 55 participants battling it out for crucial Fide rating points towards their national team selection.
Oliveira claimed the open section’s overall title after impressing with a flawless score of seven wins in the tournament, ahead of Titus Kandjimwena on six points, who placed second, and William Kamberipa on five and a half points in third.
In the women’s section, Linekela Itembu dominated with five points, alongside Gisbertha Haipinge, who also recorded five points but was placed second after tiebreaks. Emma Vatilifa rounded off the podium in third place with four points.
Individual titles saw Moses Ndemwoongela crowned the best junior player with a score of five points, alongside Erick Festus, who was named best cadet (also on five points) and Jones Shiningayamwe as the best local player (five and a half).
Gratitude
In a statement issued by Zone Seven chairperson Anna Chembe, she extended gratitude to the director of HP Campus, Dr Jacob Sheehama and his team for providing the venue.
“The tournament also received additional sponsorship from Indongo Toyota and the Ongwediva Town Council, under the facilitation of Charissa Lemona Brussel, whom we are grateful for.
Part of my role as the tournament director was to ensure the assistance of good arbiters, who did a wonderful job in resolving chess-related matters during the tournament,” she said.
Chembe added that the Oshana chess community is looking forward to more exciting tournaments and further growth in the sport, as is shown by the turnout and rising interest.
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