The local chess fraternity enjoyed a packed and exciting weekend, with two major national events taking place in Windhoek.
The 2026 Namibia National Junior Open Chess Championships were held on Saturday, followed by the National Schools Teams Championships on Sunday, highlighting the continued rise and popularity of chess in the country.
The Junior Open Championships attracted more than 400 young players from across Namibia, making it one of the largest junior chess events in recent years.
Meanwhile, the National Schools Teams Championships saw more than 30 teams compete across three sections, drawing participation from schools and regions.
The strong turnout at both tournaments clearly demonstrated the rapid growth of chess at grassroots and school levels.
According to Namibia Chess Federation president Otto Nakapunda, the increasing numbers reflect a positive trend, but also present new challenges for the sport’s administrators.
He noted that as participation continues to grow, there is a pressing need to strengthen the structures that support competitive chess.
“We need to train more teachers, arbiters, and administrators to handle the workload that comes with running tournaments. We need all stakeholders to hold hands and create the platforms for the Namibian child to be part of the world evolution happening in education, which includes chess,” Nakapunda said.
The top three champions, alongside other top eight players in each age group, now look to face each other in the Namibia National Junior Closed Championships taking place from 25 to 29 March 2026.