Zone 4 school qualifiers advance to chess championships

Pro-Ed Akademie was the battlefield for chess players last weekend, as a record-breaking 164 learners put their strategic brilliance to the test at the Zone 4 School Individual Chess Championships (Z4SICC) qualifiers.Erongo’s Zone 4 schools, represented by participants from Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Omaruru, competed in the one-day, seven-round Swiss System competition.The top three winners in each category earned the opportunity to advance to the National School Individual Chess Championships, set to take place in Windhoek on 21 February. From there, the winners will go on to represent Namibia at the World School Chess Championships on 19 March and the African School Chess Championships on 22 May.U19 qualifiersIn the under-19 boys category, Revocke Somseb of De Duine Secondary School secured first place, followed by Jonathan Titus of Flamingo Secondary School in second place, while Xavier Amutenya of Duinesig High School finished third.The under-19 girls category saw Selma Kayawala claim the top position, with Faith Kayambu of S.I. !Gobs Secondary School securing second place.U17 qualifiersFor the under-17 boys, Joel Shigwedha of Flamingo Secondary School emerged victorious, with Ashron Damens of Pro-Ed Akademie taking second place and Anthony Yusuf, also from Flamingo Secondary School, finishing third.In the under-17 girls division, Indila Abraham of Pro-Ed Akademie took first place, Sasha Gamses of Namib High School finished second, and Caylee van Wyk of Eagles Nest Private Academy claimed third place.U15 qualifiersThe under-15 boys category saw homeschooled August John Mungunda finish in first place, Alexander Kamangu of S.I. !Gobs Secondary School in second, and Gustav Wilhelm of Riverside Private School in third.In the under-15 girls category, homeschooled Vedika Kambueshe secured the top spot, while Ebbie Haipinge of Riverside Private School finished second.U13 qualifiersAmong the under-13 boys, Reuben Petrus of Swakopmund Private School emerged as the winner, followed by Thomas Henderson of Pro-Ed Akademie in second place and Cruden Moller of Duneside High School in third.The under-13 girls title was claimed by Neriah Gwanyanya of Duneside High School, while Sietske Coetzee of Pro-Ed Akademie finished second, alongside third-placed schoolmate, Laila Davids.U11 qualifiersIn the under-11 boys category, Hanro Henderson of Pro-Ed Akademie won first place and Justice Haidula of Riverside Private School took second place, alongside third-placed schoolmate, Paulino Samuel.Among the under-11 girls, Mariana Usiku of Laerskool Walvis Bay secured the top position, with Anu Awase of Alexanders Private School finishing second and Hailey-Jane Simoes of One Tree Montessori claiming third place.U9 qualifiersFor the under-9 boys, homeschooled Hedi Li finished in first place, Phaino Gwanyanya of Duneside High School in second, and Nathan Jacobus of Riverside Private School in third.The under-9 girls category saw Rainy Davids of Pro-Ed Akademie take the top spot, with Ndapanda Shiponeni of Riverside Private School securing second, alongside third-placed schoolmate, Moregrace Madembo.U7 qualifiersIn the under-7 boys division, George Dampfer of Riverside Private School emerged victorious, Micah de Waal of Eagles Nest Private Academy took second place, and Declan de Voss of Riverside Private School finished third.Meanwhile, in the under-7 girls category, Ndahafa Massipa of Riverside Private School was uncontested and claimed the first-place position.Speaking to Sport Wrap, Zone 4 chairperson Israel Shilongo expressed delight with the competition’s high standard and historic turnout.Highlighting the tightly contested games, particularly in the under-15 and under-19 sections as a testament to the players’ growth and strength over the years, Shilongo said: “We got witness record-breaking scores from Dampfer [U7], Davids [U9], Li [U9], Petrus [U13] and Mugunda [U15], who won all their games in their respective age groups.”- mariud@nsh.com.na

Zone 4 school qualifiers advance to chess championships

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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Zone 4 school qualifiers advance to chess championships

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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