The Weekend Chess Academy (TWCA) scoops the 2013 Schools Team Chess Championship

Concordia College played host to this year’s Schools’ Team Chess Championship were schools such as Wennie Du Plessis Secondary School from Gobabis and Paresis Secondary School from Okahandja took part in an electrifying 7 round long chess tournament. The tournament was made up of a primary school section and a secondary school section and each participating school or academy could enter two teams embracing four learners each.

The one-day short tournament saw long time rivals; The Weekend Chess Academy (TWCA) and Zandell Chess Academy (ZCA) battle it out like gladiators for the top prize, with TWCA’s Team A walking out of the coliseum victorious for the second time in a role after scoring a perfect 7/7 win. ZCA’s Team A came in second place followed by Team A of the Okahandja based Paresis Secondary School. Concordia College’s Team A and B as well as Wennie Du Plessis Secondary School’s Team A and B both had to mentally fight a David vs. Goliath fight throughout the tournament but failed to defeat their more experienced opponents from Paresis’s Team A, ZCA’s Team A and TWCA’s Team A and B.

Excitement was brought about from the primary school section as a close match-up was experienced amongst the overall winners. This thrill came about as the top three teams all finished with 11 Match Points, leaving their total Game Points as a Tie-Break. ZCA Team A was crowned the primary school champions after scoring a game point of 22 with the Windhoek Afrikaanse Private Skool (WAP) Team A clinching the second place  with a game point of 21,5 followed by TWCA Team A who scored 20 game points.

Tournament Regulations for 2013 SCHOOLS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

1. INTRODUCTION
The 2013 Namibian SCHOOLS’TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP is hosted by the Namibia Chess Federation.

2. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHESS TOURNAMENT:
2.1 To determine the 2013 Namibian Schools Teams Champions.
2.2 To promote chess as a sport, intellectual, educational and recreational outlet amongst the youth and the broader Namibian population.
2.3. To improve the standard of Junior Chess in Namibia.

3. PLAYING VENUE:
Concordia Collegel, David Meroro Avenue, Pioneerspark, Windhoek. (School Main Hall)

4. EVENT DATE:
14 September 2013

5. PARTICIPANTS:
Chess Academies as well as High Schools and Primary Schools

6. FORMAT
Each participating school may enter two (2) teams of four (4) players in each of the primary and secondary sections.

7. REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION FEES & BANKING DETAILS:
7.1 Registration will take place on site or via email: do@namibiachessfederation.com

7.2 The registration fees are as follows, to be paid into the NCF Account or paid on the spot:
Primary School Team: N$ 120*
Secondary School Team: N$ 160*

7.3 Banking details
Bank: Standard Bank
Account Name: Namibia Chess Federation
Account Number: 241 767 156
Branch Code: 08-2372-00

8. PAIRING SYSTEM, TIE-BREAKS AND RATE OF PLAY:
8.1 The Championship format will be a SWISS System team tournament played over 7 (Seven) Rounds.

8.2 Swiss Perfect will be used to do the pairings.

8.3 Match-points will be awarded as follow:
    2 points for a win;
    1 point for a draw;
    0 point for a loss

8.4 Should teams have equal match points, the tie-breaks will be applied in the following order:
1) Game points;
 2) Direct encounter
 3) Progressive Score
 4) Median Bucholz
 5) Bucholz

8.5 The rate of play will be 20 minutes per match.

9. TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS, CHIEF ARBITER AND APPEALS COMMITTEE
9.1 The role of Tournament Director will be assumed by CA Fremantle Kuhanga.

9.2 The role of Chief Arbiter will be assumed by Charles Eichab, assisted by McLean Handjaba and Otto Nakapunda

9.3 The Appeals Committee will be announced at the start of Round 1. All complaints against any decision taken by the Chief Arbiter should be lodged with the Appeals Committee. N$ 100 is
payable. The complainant shall lose the N$ 100 in the event of the Appeals Committee's decision
going against him or her.

10. TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Welcome and Opening - 14 September 2013: 18h00 – NCF President Otto Z. Nakapunda
Announcements - Chief Arbiter  Charles Eichab

Day 1 - 14 September 2013
Registration from 08h00
Round 1: 10h00 - 10h40
Round 2: 11h00 - 11h40
Round 3: 12h00 - 12h40
Lunch Break: 12h40 - 14h00
Round 4: 14h00 - 14h40
Round 5: 15h00 - 15h40
Round 6: 16h00 - 16h40
Round 7: 17h00 - 17h40

Closing Ceremony and Prize Giving: 18h00.
Vote of thanks: NCF Vice-President Melitta Mathe
11.2 For each and every section:
1st Prize = 4 x Certificates*
2nd Prize = 4 x Certificates*
3rd Prize =  4 x Certificates*

*Cash prizes (and possibly trophies) will be announced at the start of Round 2.

12. INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION
The overall winners will be eligible to represent Namibia at the World Schools Team Championships. However, the Namibia Chess Federation cannot at this stage guarantee assistance other than to facilitate such a trip.

13. ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORT:
The participants and/or their schools, organizations that they represent will be responsible for their own accommodation, transport and meals for the duration of the event.

Since this is a National Championship, the Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU) can be
contacted to assist with travel arrangements and/or board and lodging.

14. TUCK SHOP
The NCF will run a tuck shop offering snacks and soft drinks at affordable prices.

15. DRESS CODE FOR PARTICIPANTS:
The dress code is smart casual or school uniform.

16. LOC CONTACT DETAILS:
Tournament Director Fremantle Kuhanga: 081-4699070
Chief Arbiter Charles Eichab: 081-6238160
Assistant Arbiter Otto Nakapunda: 081-2116463
Assistant Arbiter McLean Handjaba: 081-4006467



Disclaimer: The Namibia Chess Federation does not accept any responsibility for injuries to any party, participant or spectator during the above mentioned chess event. We, however, will endeavour to have a conducive and competitive environment for all stakeholders as we strive to promote sports of the mind in Namibia under the best possible conditions which our finances and resources may allow.