TWCA STUDENTS SCOOP 9 MEDALS, 4 GOLD, 1 SILVER AND 4 BRONZE AT THE 1ST BANK WINDHOEK NAMIBIA NATIONAL JUNIOR OPEN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2008!!

Martin Hamunyela is the overall winner of 1st Bank Windhoek Namibia National Junior Open Chess Championship 2008 which took place this past weekend, 7 June 2008 at Okahandja Secondary School. Hamunyela got a perfect score of 6/6 and earned N$600,00 a gold medal and a trophy for his excellent performance. He was ranked fourth at the start of the event but defeated seat one and tournament favourite Goodwill Khoa from the Weekend Chess Academy in the first round of the event.

In second place came Fritz Namaseb who drew against Khoa in round 5 with 4.5/6 Namaseb got silver medal and N$400.00. Goodwill Khoa also got 4.5/6 and earned N$300.00 and a bronze medal.

Stephne Swartz a student at The Weekend Chess Academy and the Namibia National Women's
Champion dominated the u-18 section. This under 16 chess player decided to take on the under 18 section and demolished them all. She also got a perfect score of 7/7 and earned N$400.00 and a gold medal. She was followed by Vijanda Karupa who got 6/7 and earned himself a silver
medal and N$ 300.00. Daniel Tjihenuna got 5/7, a fighter who tried to swindle a win from Swartz but she was ready for that too. He earned N$200.00 and a bronze medal for his efforts.

The under 16 section was also dominated by Chez-Ray Allies another student of The Weekend Chess Academy added the python style to his excellent attacking style of chess. This paid
of as he finished 1.5 points ahead of the field with a perfect score of 7/7. Nepando Jolly followed in second position with 5.5/7. In third place came the ever patient Anna Hangula with 5/7.

Julian Isaak a young lad who's opponents shiver when he is around scored 6.5/7 in the under 14 section. Isaak swindled a won game from his rival Christo Retief who could only watch with shock and awe when the drawn position appeared. Hange Tjingaete came second with 6/7 and
was followed by Christo Retief in third place with 5.5/7. Both Isaak and Retief are currently students at The Weekend Chess Academy.

Paulinus Shilomboleni, Theunis Voges and Devin Plaatjes all scored 6/7 in the under 12 section. The only way the trio could be separated was to look at their tie-breaks. Hence Paulinus Shilomboleni came 1st with a progressive score of 26 followed by Theunis Voges with 25 points and in third place was Devin Plaatjes with 22 points. Once again Devin Plaatjes is a student at The Weekend Chess Academy.

A straight A student at school, Nicola Tjaronda, who only learned chess 4 months ago at The Weekend Chess Academy scored 5 points in a row, lead the under 12 section from round 4 until the end with 5.5/7. Even the coaches are shocked by the talent and feat of this young girl. Her rivals, David and Leilani Smaruj also got 5.5/7 but once again Nicola was the victor as she had the highest progressive score of 26 points.

Banti Smaruj, dominated the under 8 section and scored 5/5 with 1.5 points ahead of the field. Kangwa Chakanga came second with a scored of 3.5/5 Abigail Julius came third with 3/5. Both Kangwa and Abigail learned chess 4 months ago. Its just amazing what kids can do with a little assistance. Kangwa and Abigail are both students at The Weekend Chess Academy.


Something worth mentioning is that 9 of the 21 medals were won by students of The Weekend Chess Academy, 4 gold, 1silver and 4 bronze. 14 students of the 36 students to battle it out for the National Junior Champion title are from The Weekend Chess Academy. This final close event will take place at the school hall of David Bezuidenhout High School from 21- 22 June 2008.

Congratulations to all our students for their excellent performance. You are on the right track. Let's keep it up.

Bank Windhoek Sponsored the prize fund of N$6,430.00 and it was handed to the winners as follows:


U-20 Section
1st Place: Martin Hamunyela - Cash N$ 600.00 + Gold Medal + Trophy
2nd Place: Fritz Namaseb - Cash N$ 400.00 + Silver Medal
3rd Place: Goodwill Khoa - Cash N$ 300.00 + Bronze Medal

U-18 Section
1st Place: Stephne Swartz - Cash N$ 400.00 + Gold Medal
2nd Place: Vijanda Karupa - Cash N$ 300.00 + Silver Medal
3rd Place: Daniel Tjihenuna - Cash N$ 200.00 + Bronze Medal

U-16 Section
1st Place: Chez-Ray Allies - Cash N$ 300.00 + Gold Medal
2nd Place: Jolly Nepando - Cash N$ 200.00 + Silver Medal
3rd Place: Anna Hangula - Cash N$ 150.00 + Bronze Medal

U-14 Section
1st Place: Julian Isaaks - Cash N$ 200.00 + Gold Medal
2nd Place: Hange Tjingaete - Cash N$150.00 + Silver Medal
3rd Place: Christo Retief - Cash N$ 100.00 + Bronze Medal

U-12 Section
1st Place: Paulinus Shilomboleni - Cash N$ 150.00 + Gold Medal
2nd Place: Theunis Voges - Cash N$ 100.00 + Silver Medal
3rd Place: Devin Plaatjes - Cash N$ 70.00 + Bronze Medal

U-10 Section
1st Place: Nicola Tjaronda - Cash N$ 120.00 + Gold Medal
2nd Place: David Smaruj - Cash N$ 70.00 + Silver Medal
3rd Place: Leilani Smaruj - Cash N$ 50.00 + Bronze Medal

U-8 Section
1st Place: Banti Smaruj - Cash N$ 100.00 + Gold Medal
2nd Place: Kangwa Chakanga - Cash N$ 50.00 + Silver Medal
3rd Place: Abigail Julius - Cash N$ 30.00 + Bronze Medal

Apart from the above prizes Bank Windhoek also sponsored 1,000.00 chess sets towards the development of chess in schools. We would like to thank Bank windhoek for this enormous investment into our society's future.

Together we do better!!

ICEIDA also sponsored 500 chess instruction manuals for the further development of chess in schools. This concluded and 3 year chess development project which is estimated at 2,5 million Namibia dollars. Thank you to ICEIDA.

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