The Bank Windhoek Kehat Beukes Chess Tournament hosted in conjunction with the Namibia Chess Federation (NCF) attracted 70 participants over the past weekend.

The tournament, which was sponsored by Bank Windhoek, was held from Saturday, 14 to15 December in Swakopmund. It was dominated by Namibian players who travelled from across the country, and had an international flair with a team of 10 chess players from Botswana, including a few others from Zimbabwe. 

The tournament was played as a nine-round Swiss System, with the rate of play being 25 minutes per player and three seconds increment per move, starting from move one.

NCF president Goodwill Khoa said Bank Windhoek’s ongoing support had resulted in the growth of chess in Namibia.

The tournament’s chief organiser, Charles Eichab, thanked Bank Windhoek for sponsoring Namibia’s oldest-running chess tournament. He said many chess players look forward to the tournament because it is a holiday event that serves a positive purpose – to honour its late founder, Dr Kehat Beukes, and enhance the sport of chess within the country.

Awarded as Chess Candidate Master, Dion Moyo said participating in the tournament for the third time was fantastic. He has won the tournament twice thus far. As a chess player and a coach, he said this was the strongest tournament, which was also tricky because “the contingent from Botswana was strong. 

The participation of Botswana, the current NCF president and the current National Chess Champion, had added rating strength to this tournament”.

Awarded as Women Candidate Master, Atlang Mosweu said the tournament was excellent. “It was a great experience playing in the tournament, and allowed me to learn from my mistakes,” she said.