Cronjé (9) ends Namibia’s six-year gold drought at African champs

Namibian rising chess sensation Frederick Cronjé (9) ended the country’s six-year gold medal drought after being crowned champion of the under-9 open section at this year’s African Schools Individual Chess Championship.Held recently in Mombasa, Kenya, the competition saw the country field 26 prodigies to take on players from 11 other countries. Namibia was ranked fourth overall, behind hosts Kenya in first place, Uganda in second and South Africa in third.Windhoek Afrikaans Private School’s (WAP) Cronjé delivered a masterful performance to remain unbeaten in the tournament with an outstanding tally of seven victories and two draws after nine rounds to cement his podium gold medal finish.Speaking to this publication, Cronjé described his gold-medal finish as an incredibly exciting moment. “I felt proud to represent Namibia and to bring home the trophy,” he said.King’s Gambit openingRegarding his favourite chess opening, he pointed out the King’s Gambit as his go-to, describing it as “a bold and exciting opening that suits his playing style.”Although taking on and defeating or drawing against strong opponents was a great experience for the budding prodigy, he also had time to enjoy himself off the board. “Outside the tournament, I especially enjoyed the ocean at Mombasa and playing in the water park at the hotel!”Cronjé’s support system in the sport comprises one of the country’s most elegant players to ever grace the board. He extended appreciation to his WAP coach, FIDE arbiter and Candidate Master (CM) Charles Eichab, whom he credits for introducing him to chess and helping him develop a real love for the game.“I am truly grateful for the time and effort he has invested in me, along with Dante Beukes, who worked with me in preparation for the tournament,” he remarked.‘Namibia’s growing pool of young talent’In a statement posted on their social media platforms, the African Chess Confederation (ACC) lauded Cronjé’s performance, stating that his victory is a reminder of the country’s growing pool of young talent ready to take on the continent.“When Namibia last struck gold at an African Chess Confederation tournament, Cronjé was just three. [This] was back in 2019, when Dante Beukes triumphed on home soil at the African Youth Chess Championship in Windhoek,” the statement read.Beukes’ gold-medal performance has led him to earn the International Chess Federation (FIDE) second-highest rank and the country’s first International Master (IM) title at just 16 years old. At 13 years, he clinched the country’s first recorded gold medal at an ACC event.Another notable figure at the continental showpiece was Ottilie ‘Oyo’ Yorokee Hinda, who became Africa’s youngest Woman Candidate Master (WCM) at just eight years old after clinching gold at the 2018 African Youth Championship in Kisumu, Kenya.The country’s most gold medals at an ACC event were attained in 2019 by Beukes, alongside Penny Campbell and Linekela Itembu, following Shali Itembu’s gold medal in 2018.AccomplishmentsThe Namibian team was accompanied by head of delegation Israel Shilongo, deputy head of delegation Abigahil Muronga and coach Ricky Eiman, along with 18 accompanying parents.Shilongo was impressed with the overall team performance. “All players performed very well, with most exceeding expectations. [Testament to this is the feat we achieved] having three players [Frederick Cronjé, Shadah Uanguta and Iyaloo Hamutumwa] in contention for gold-medal positions in their respective categories with four rounds to go,” he said.Other notable achievements included Uanguta (7 points) being just half a point away from winning gold in the U11 girls section, as first place was tied on 7.5 points by Kenya’s Miriam Paraan, Amanda Breetalizah and Matingi Riley, with tiebreaks ultimately deciding the final standings.Additionally, the Namibian team’s youngest player, Penny Shilongo (5), managed three wins out of nine.- mariud@nsh.com.na

Cronjé (9) ends Namibia’s six-year gold drought at African champs

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-06

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Cronjé (9) ends Namibia’s six-year gold drought at African champs

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-06

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