Saturday 28 March 2015

2015 National Chess Championship

 2015 National Chess Championship
Tournament regulations:

1.    VENUE: – Protea Hotel, Thuringerhof, Independence Avenue, Windhoek.

2.    EVENT DATE: 02 April – 06 April 2015

3.    Registration Period and Method:
Period:                   Starts 29th March – ends 02 April 2015 at 14h00 sharp.
Method:                 SMS the following;
“National Champs Registration + YOUR FULL NAME and the SECTION you want to play in”
e.g.National Champs Registration, Bobby Fischer, Open Section” to 0814006467

4.    REGISTRATION
4.1.        REGISTRATION FEE FOR MEMBERS:
N$ 100.00 + N$ 50 Deposit – Adults
N$ 50.00 + N$ 50 Deposit – Under 20

4.2.        REGISTRATION FEE FOR NON-MEMBERS:
N$ 150.00 + N$ 50.00 Deposit - Adults
N$ 100.00 + N$ 50.00 Deposit – Under 20

DEPOSITS ARE REFUNDABLE AT PRIZE GIVING ON CONDITION THAT A PLAYER HAS COMPLETED THE TOURNAMENT.

5.    EVENT SCHEDULE:
5.1.         OPENING CEREMONY: 17h30
Welcoming and Opening Speech: Chief Organizer – Mr McLean Handjaba
Announcements by Tournament Director - Mr Immanuel Gariseb

1.1.        OPEN SECTION:
Round 1 : Thursday                02 April 2015               18h00 - 22h00
Round 2 : Friday                    03 April 2015               09h00 - 13h00
Round 3 : Friday                     03 April 2015                16h00 - 20h00
Round 4 : Saturday                04 April 2015                09h00 - 13h00
Round 5 : Saturday                 04 April 2015                16h00 - 20h00
Round 6 : Sunday                   05 April 2015                14h00 - 18h00
Round 7 : Monday                  06 April 2015                10h00 - 14h00

1.2.        WOMEN’S SECTION:
Round 1 : Thursday                02 April 2015               18h00 - 22h00
Round 2 : Friday                    03 April 2015               09h00 - 13h00
Round 3 : Friday                     03 April 2015                16h00 - 20h00
Round 4 : Saturday                 04 April 2015                09h00 - 13h00
Round 5 : Saturday                 04 April 2015                16h00 - 20h00
Round 6 : Sunday                   05 April 2015                14h00 - 18h00
Round 7 : Monday                  06 April 2015                10h00 - 14h00

1.3.        B- SECTION:
Round 1 : Thursday                02 April 2015               18h00 - 22h00
Round 2 : Friday                    03 April 2015               09h00 - 13h00
Round 3 : Friday                     03 April 2015                16h00 - 20h00
Round 4 : Saturday                 04 April 2015                09h00 - 13h00
Round 5 : Saturday                 04 April 2015                16h00 - 20h00
Round 6 : Sunday                   05 April 2015                14h00 - 18h00

Round 7 : Monday                  06 April 2015                10h00 - 14h00 

5.5.        CLOSING CEREMONY: MONDAY, 06 April 2015

Chess League Live Draw: 15h30 (Officiated by Otto Nakapunda)
National Championship Prize Giving: 16h30
Vote of thanks: by Jolly Nepando

6.    Tournament Sections:
6.1.        The tournament will consist of three sections: the Open Section, Women’s Section and B- Section.

6.2.        Open Section:
6.2.1.    The winner of the Open Section will be declared Namibia’s National Chess Champion and will be bestowed with a National Master (NM) title.
6.2.2.    Only players above the age of 16 or players that have finished in the top 20 at any official NCF tournament in the past 3 years may partake in the open section. Players younger than 16 that have qualified for the junior national team may participate in the open section provided they have finished top 10 at any official NCF tournament. Female players may also partake in the Open Section.
6.2.3.    The organizers reserve the right to apply their discretion in granting admission to inactive players above the age of 16 that wish to participate in the open section.

6.3.        Women’s Section:
6.3.1.    The winner of the Women’s Section will be declared Namibia’s Woman Champion and will receive a Women’s National Master (WNM) title.
6.3.2.    Only female chess players may partake in this section.

6.4.        B-Section
6.4.1.    The winner of the B- section will not be bestowed with any national title. He or she will receive a gold medal and a cash prize.
6.4.2.    The B-Section is open to both male and female players that are recognized as “novice/amateur” chess players. No FIDE title players or players with official FIDE ratings of above 1700 may enter this category

7.    SYSTEM AND RATE OF PLAY:
7.1.         The Open Section format will be a SWISS System tournament played over 7 (seven) Rounds. Rate of play will be 01h30 minutes plus 30 seconds increment for every move starting from move 1.
7.2.        The Women’s Section format will be a Round-Robin System tournament played over 7 (Seven) Rounds. Rate of play will be 1h30 minutes plus 30 seconds increment for every move starting from move 1.
7.3.         The B-Section format will be a SWISS System tournament played over 7 (seven) Rounds. Rate of play will be 1h30 minutes plus 30 seconds increment for every move starting from move 1.

8.    PAIRING AND TIE BREAK SYSTEM:
8.1.        Swiss Manager will be used for the pairings. Tie-Breaks will be applied in the following order:
      i.        Direct encounter
     ii.        Progressive Score
    iii.        Medien-Bucholz
   iv.        Bucholz

8.2.        If players are still tied then a 1 game 5 minutes Armageddon will be played.

9.    NATIONAL CHESS RATINGS:
A chess player who does not have a national rating will receive a rating based on his/her performance against rated players.

10.  WHO MAY PARTICIPATE?
This is a closed event and therefore only Namibian citizens may participate – Please bring a Namibian Identity document along when you register as proof of Namibian Citizenship.

11.   CATEGORY PRIZES:
11.1.      OPEN SECTION PRIZES:
1st Prize = *Cash + Gold medal
2nd Prize = Cash + Silver Medal
3rd Prize = Cash + Bronze Medal
4th Prize = Cash
5th Prize = Cash
11.2.      WOMEN’S SECTION PRIZES:
1st Prize = Cash + Gold medal
2nd Prize = Cash + Silver Medal
3rd Prize = Cash + Bronze Medal
11.3.      B-SECTION PRIZES:
1st Prize = Cash + Gold medal
2nd Prize = Cash
3rd Prize = Cash
11.4.      *Cash Prizes To Be Announced before Round 1.
NB: This year’s tournament is NOT sponsored.
11.5.      Cash prizes are in Namibia Dollars and will be shared equally if players are tied. Tie-breaks will be used to determine the place attained!!

12.   QUALIFICATION
12.1.      ZONE 4.3 INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The winner in the Open section and the winner in the Women’s Section will qualify to partake at the 2015 Zone 4.3 Individual Chess Championship to be held in Blantyre, Malawi from the 17th to the 26th April 2015. The 2nd place and 3rd place runner ups in both the male and female section also qualify to represent Namibia in Malawi but at their own cost.

12.2.      AFRICA INDIVIDUAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION
The first 3 players in the Open section and the first 3 players in the Women’s Section will qualify to partake at the 2015 Africa Individual Chess Championship in Cairo, Egypt from the 1st to 13th May 2015. The NCF will however only provide financial assistance to the 1st place winners in the open section and female section.

13.   TOURNAMENT RULES AND FIDE RULES:
The tournament organizers reserve the right to use Namibian tailored Tournament Rules and Regulations for this tournament as they see fit. The current standing FIDE Laws and Rules of classical chess will be applied in all cases not prescribed specifically by this tournament regulations.

13.1.      Players who are late by 15 minutes after a round has started will forfeit their games.

13.2.      No player shall be allowed to enter the playing venue with their cell phones or an electronic device that may assist them during the games. Any cell phones in the playing venue permitted by the Chief Arbiter should be switched of at all times. If a players phone rings or alarm goes off such player will forfeit his or her game immediately. Players and Spectators alike will not be permitted to talk on their Cell phones within the playing venue.
13.3.      Cameras with a flash may only be used for the first 15mins after the start of the round. After that only cameras without a flash may be used inside the playing venue.
13.4.      Utmost Silence should prevail by all present. A player becomes a spectator after they finish their games and should be silent or will be asked to leave the playing venue.
13.5.      When a player touches a piece the piece should be moved unless it will be an illegal move. The move will be regarded as finish when the player releases the piece on the destination square.
13.6.      Rude behaviour or foul language towards fellow chess players and/or spectators during and or after the games will not be tolerated. Players who make them guilty of such offense/behaviour will be disqualified with immediate effect. The Chief Arbiter’s and his/her assistants’ decisions will be final.
13.7.      Players should complete their score sheet after every move. If a player does not complete the score sheet a warning will be issued and the game will be lost with the third warning. Players will not be allowed to hide or destroy their score sheets at any point during the game. The score sheets are property of the organizers even after a copy is given to the chess player.
NB: Chess players are requested to please bring their own pens to record their moves. Players (especially scholars) who do not know how to record their games should ask for exemption when they register. We would however strongly recommend that they record their moves as it is part of learning and growing in chess. Score sheets will be provided by the NCF.
13.8.      The Namibia Chess Federation Executive Committee reserves the right to amend and make necessary changes to the tournament regulations as it sees fit to ensure a successful tournament.

14.   APPEALS COMMITTEE
14.1.       If a player would like to appeal against any judgment from the arbiters he or she should do so 30 minutes after the round ends. A fee of N$100.00 is payable before an appeal can be heard. If the player is found not guilty he or she will be refunded. If guilty he or she will forfeit their N$100.00.
14.2.      An appeals committee will be appointed before the start of Round 1.

15.  LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
Chief Organizer: McLean Handjaba               +264814006467
Tournament Director: Immanuel Gariseb      +264818539257
Chief Arbiter: El-Shaddai Aluteni                    +264813858618
1st Assistant Arbiter: Charles Eichab              +264816238160
2nd Assistant Arbiter: Billy Chisenga               +264813667923
Treasurer: Jolly Nepando                               +264818594954
Logistics: Richman Tjiriange                           +264812061439



By order,
Chief Arbiter
____________________

Ms El-Shaddai Aluteni

Sunday 15 March 2015

National Championship moved to 2nd - 6th April 2015


TAKE NOTE THAT THE 2015 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULED FOR 18-22 MARCH HAS BEEN MOVED TO 2nd-6th APRIL 2015. 

This move will affect the Arandis and Omaruru Open Tournaments slated for 4th and 5th April respectively and so new dates for the both these tournaments will be announced in due course.

Saturday 14 March 2015

Chess kicks off Independence celebrations as Eichab wins yet again

Charles Eichab took center stage last year when he won almost every chess tournament he took-part in and this year he showed just why he remains Namibia’s most decorated chess player. The 2014 Namsports chess player of the year thrashed 10 of his chess adversaries and in all 11 rounds at the recently held Independence Blitz Tournament held in the capital over the weekend.

Newly elected Namibia Chess Federation (NCF) Public Relations Officer, El-Shaddai Aluteni, provided that, a remarkable total of 78 senior and junior chess players flocked to the UNAM Khomasdal Campus on Saturday (14th March) for the 10th edition of the annual Independence Chess Blitz Tournament this year.

Since its inception in 2006, the event has become a popular meeting place for chess players based around the country. This year, participants from as far as Oshakati, Swakopmund and Gobabis took-part in the fast paced tourney.

Eichab only drew one match against second placed Immanuel Gariseb while discombobulating all his other opponents in spectacular fashion. Sanders Oberholzer came in third following Gariseb in second who also waked away with the best U20 honor.

The U18 section was won by Nicola Tjaronda who also walked away with the best female player cash prize.

In the U16 segment, Mutago Hochobeb cashed in after beating age-group mate Kaune Kuzeue on a tight tie-break.

With only half a point separating him from Hiren Naidoo, Kefilwe Kajovi secured first prize in the U14 section.

Well-known Dante Beukes did what he did best as he once again won first prize in the U12 division.

Another familiar face in Namibia junior chess, Gale Jane smiled all the way to the bank as he scooped first prize in the U10 age-group.

Aluteni, acclaimed this year’s tournament to be, “a euphoric celebration of our beloved country’s silver jubilee.” She added that, the federation has chess tournaments scheduled for every month this year including the highly anticipated National Championship scheduled for 3rd to 6th April, Oshakati Open on 30th May, Keetmanshoop on 6th June and Windhoek Open on 21st-23rd August.

All persons interested in becoming NCF members can simply email the secretary at secretary@namibiachessfederation.com.





Final ranking

Rank SNo.    Name                   Rtg FED Pts Res. 

   1    1 CM Eichab Charles        2000 NAM 10½  0   
   2    4    Gariseb Immanuel      1900 NAM 9½   0   
   3    6    Oberholzer Sanders    1900 NAM  8   0   
   4    3 CM Nakapunda Otto        1950 NAM  8   0   
   5   54    Mbaha Athiel          1600 NAM  8   0   
   6   77    Kuhanga Freamntle     1700 NAM  8   0   
   7    5    Nitzborn Joseph       1900 NAM 7½   0   
   8   19    Nauiseb Alfred        1700 NAM 7½   0   
   9   14    Gurirab Montgomery    1700 NAM 7½   0   
  10   30    Jan Oliva             1700 GER  7   0   
  11    7    Shidolo Simon         1900 NAM  7   0   
  12   11    Beukes Dante          1700 NAM  7   0   
  13   71    Toivo Nangula         1500 NAM  7   0   
  14    8    Kamberipa William     1800 NAM  7   0   
  15   22    Uirab Adelino         1700 NAM  7   0   
  16   69    Tjamburo Greg         1500 NAM  7   0   
  17    9    Tjaronda Nicola       1800 NAM  7   0   
  18   20    Tjatindi Kamutuua     1700 NAM  7   0   
  19   17 CM Jolly-Joice Nepando   1700 NAM  7   0   
  20   18    Kajovi Matjua         1700 NAM  7   0   
  21   21    Tjiriange Richman     1700 NAM  7   0   
  22    2 CM Handjaba McLean       1950 NAM 6½   0   
  23   12    Campbell Clerence     1700 NAm  6   0   
  24   27    Hochobeb Mutago       1600 NAM  6   0   
  25   10    Bernhard Schwarz      1700 NAM  6   0   
  26   40    Ujamba Therence       1600 NAM  6   0   
  27   13    Dumbura Michael       1700 ZAM  6   0   
  28   28    Horn Aldo             1600 NAM  6   0   
  29   60    Ndoroma Christopher   1500 NAM  6   0   
  30   75    Mentile Lishen        1800 NAM  6   0   
  31   15    Hoveka Varee          1700 NAM  6   0   
  32   76    Virimuje Kahuure      1500 NAM  6   0   
  33   50    Korupanda Herryson    1500 NAM  6   0   
  34   68    Shilomboleni Paulinus 1500 NAM  6   0   
  35   37    Ndungula Borro        1600 NAM  6   0   
  36   70    Tjirare Leonhard      1500 NAM  6   0   
  37   78    Professor Mavenjono   1600 NAM  6   0   
  38   48    Kaune Kuzeue          1500 NAM  6   0   
  39   55    Mbitjita Kahure       1500 NAM 5½   1   
  40   33    Kajovi Kefilwe        1600 NAM 5½   0   
  41   35    Naidoo Hiren          1600 NAM  5   0   
  42   26    Hochobeb Mubasen      1600 NAM  5   0   
  43   43    Gaoseb Manfredo       1500 NAM  5   0   
  44   25    Gurirab Kevin         1600 NAM  5   0   
  45   36    Nangula Etu           1600 NAM  5   0   
  46   51    Korupanda Matjiua     1500 NAM  5   0   
  47   49    Kazekondjo Uzuva      1500 NAM  5   0   
  48   32    Jane Gale             1600 NAM  5   0   
  49   31    Jane Ditshaba         1600 NAM  5   0   
  50   16    Japhta Brain          1600 NAM  5   0   
  51   23    David Wilbard         1600 NAM  5   0   
  52   34    Lazarus Shatipamba    1600 NAM  5   0   
  53   47    Katjimune Marshall    1500 NAM 4½   0   
  54   41    Erastus Nghishoona    1500 NAM 4½   0   
  55   64    Pena Kahaka           1500 NAM 4½   0   
  56   72    Treasure Zaongara     1500 NAM 4½   0   
  57   39    Tjirare Gatsen        1600 NAM  4   0   
  58   44    Hoabeb Joseph         1500 NAM  4   0   
  59   57    Mundjuua Kamuilze     1500 NAM  4   0   
  60   59    Ndjiisira Kaunatjike  1500 NAM  4   0   
  61   67    Salmon Williams       1500 NAm  4   0   
  62   45    James  Kamerika       1500 NAM  4   0   
  63   63    Nombuiro Marenga      1500 NAM  4   0   
  64   65    Phenyo Mmolawa        1500      4   0   
  65   58    Mupetami Steven       1500 NAM  4   0   
  66   74    Vilho Jesse           1500 NAM  4   0   
  67   24    Gideon Ndali          1600 NAM  4   0   
  68   52    Lamek Indongo         1500 NAM 3½   0   
  69   61    Ngaihape Mbahepa      1500 NAM 3½   0   
  70   53    Maniky Hangero        1500 NAM 3½   0   
  71   62    Ngenda Hamutenya      1500 NAM 3½   0   
  72   66    Rodricoh Tjivela      1500 NAM 3½   0   
  73   42    Erastus Erckie        1500 NAM  3   0   
  74   29    Ithana Kerth          1500 NAM  3   0   
  75   73    Veendapi Hangero      1500 NAM 2½   0   
  76   38    Nyazika Bruce         1600      2   0   
  77   56    Meundju Katarjiua     1500 NAM  2   0   
  78   46    Karaerua Dinah        1500 NAM  2   0