Chess teams gear up for World Olympiad
Chess
The dream of breaking into the world's top-100 continues to inspire the Namibians.
The 45th FIDE World Chess Olympiad is set to be the largest since its inception in 1927, with ten of Namibia\'s finest players gearing up to represent the nation on the global stage in Budapest, Hungary.
After a rigorous trials process since last year, culminating in the final selection at the national championship in March, Namibia’s two teams – to compete in the Open and Women’s sections – are now set to test their strategic prowess against the world’s elite from 10 to 23 September.
Set to depart for Budapest on Monday, their dreams of being etched in the annals of chess history are beckoning, as finishing in the top-100 will determine the country’s eligibility for the World Cup next year.
Participants
This year’s Olympiad promises a historic gathering of the world’s top chess minds, with 187 teams from across the globe signed up to participate.
The Namibian team in the Open section comprises the country’s two-time champion, 24-year-old National Master (NM) Heskiel Ndahangwapo, Candidate Master (CM) Charles Eichab (45), Goodwill Khoa (35), Bernhard Schwarz (36), NM Max Nitzborn (53), alongside team captain and head of the delegation Lloyd Diën.
The women’s team, captained by FIDE Master (FM) Leonhard Mueller, comprises Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Jamie Nicole Beukes (16), WCM Jolly-Joice Nepando (31), Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Rauha Shipindo (34), Kamutuua Tjatindi (38) and WCM Keisha van Wyk (20).
The head of delegation, Lloyd Diën, highlighted that this event marks Namibia’s 14th overall participation.
“The Open team has competed 13 times over the board and once online, while the women’s team has participated eight times over the board,” he noted.
‘Like heavyweight boxing’
Diën likened the event to a heavyweight boxing match, explaining that the two travelling teams will consist of four players plus an additional reserve.
He explained: “The teams will play one game daily, with a rest day in between. Each round will see the teams paired off, with each team assigning one player to each board. The four players will be seated next to each other, playing on boards 1 to 4 for each round, with team points determining the overall winner.”
About Namibia\'s past record, Diën noted that the performances have been good, although they have often fallen just short of their goals.
“We’ve been knocking on the top-100 door for some time now, but unfortunately, we’ve always come up just short. Our closest was placing 103rd in the previous Olympiad in 2022, which was hosted in India,” he said.
Full of confidence
Given their past experience, the team should go into the tournament feeling confident, he emphasised.
“We should use what we’ve learned in the past and implement it as effectively as we can to achieve the top-100, to secure another World Cup spot and earn individual titles for the players,” he noted.
Diën said this will be Schwarz’s first time attending the Olympiad, but he has been diligently preparing.
“I am confident he will rise to the occasion, like he did when he made his international debut at the BRICS Sports Games in June, which gave him a taste of the competitive level we anticipate at the Olympiad.
“Within the team composition, Heskiel, Charles and Goodwill will serve as the ‘tankers’ (highest rated players), providing a strong foundation, while the dynamic Nitzborn and Schwarz will offer essential support. The women’s team is a well-balanced group and we expect them to showcase their skills, training and hard work on the global stage.”
After a rigorous trials process since last year, culminating in the final selection at the national championship in March, Namibia’s two teams – to compete in the Open and Women’s sections – are now set to test their strategic prowess against the world’s elite from 10 to 23 September.
Set to depart for Budapest on Monday, their dreams of being etched in the annals of chess history are beckoning, as finishing in the top-100 will determine the country’s eligibility for the World Cup next year.
Participants
This year’s Olympiad promises a historic gathering of the world’s top chess minds, with 187 teams from across the globe signed up to participate.
The Namibian team in the Open section comprises the country’s two-time champion, 24-year-old National Master (NM) Heskiel Ndahangwapo, Candidate Master (CM) Charles Eichab (45), Goodwill Khoa (35), Bernhard Schwarz (36), NM Max Nitzborn (53), alongside team captain and head of the delegation Lloyd Diën.
The women’s team, captained by FIDE Master (FM) Leonhard Mueller, comprises Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Jamie Nicole Beukes (16), WCM Jolly-Joice Nepando (31), Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Rauha Shipindo (34), Kamutuua Tjatindi (38) and WCM Keisha van Wyk (20).
The head of delegation, Lloyd Diën, highlighted that this event marks Namibia’s 14th overall participation.
“The Open team has competed 13 times over the board and once online, while the women’s team has participated eight times over the board,” he noted.
‘Like heavyweight boxing’
Diën likened the event to a heavyweight boxing match, explaining that the two travelling teams will consist of four players plus an additional reserve.
He explained: “The teams will play one game daily, with a rest day in between. Each round will see the teams paired off, with each team assigning one player to each board. The four players will be seated next to each other, playing on boards 1 to 4 for each round, with team points determining the overall winner.”
About Namibia\'s past record, Diën noted that the performances have been good, although they have often fallen just short of their goals.
“We’ve been knocking on the top-100 door for some time now, but unfortunately, we’ve always come up just short. Our closest was placing 103rd in the previous Olympiad in 2022, which was hosted in India,” he said.
Full of confidence
Given their past experience, the team should go into the tournament feeling confident, he emphasised.
“We should use what we’ve learned in the past and implement it as effectively as we can to achieve the top-100, to secure another World Cup spot and earn individual titles for the players,” he noted.
Diën said this will be Schwarz’s first time attending the Olympiad, but he has been diligently preparing.
“I am confident he will rise to the occasion, like he did when he made his international debut at the BRICS Sports Games in June, which gave him a taste of the competitive level we anticipate at the Olympiad.
“Within the team composition, Heskiel, Charles and Goodwill will serve as the ‘tankers’ (highest rated players), providing a strong foundation, while the dynamic Nitzborn and Schwarz will offer essential support. The women’s team is a well-balanced group and we expect them to showcase their skills, training and hard work on the global stage.”
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