Leonard Mueller wins National Chess Championship

WORLD Chess Organisation (FIDE) Master Leonard Mueller once again demonstrated his peerless class when he played high-level chess to win the National Chess Championships.

Mueller won all his five games and only conceded two half points in the last two rounds against Candidate Masters (CM) Otto Nakapunda and Charles Eichab as his undefeated streak earned him 6/7 points. In second place were Max Nitzborn with 5,5/7 and Josef Nitzborn also with 5,5/7. Max had a higher progressive score on tie-break than Josef and thus came second overall. The duo, both chess coaches at the Weekend Chess Academy (WCA), showed their metal this year and only conceded one point each against Fide Master Mueller.In the junior section, Unam student Sylvestor Nanyala fought the hardest to clinch the gold with 5/7. The Arandis-born Nanyala was followed by Immanuel Gariseb with 5/7 in second place and Julian Isaak with 5/7 in third place. The progressive tie-break once again split the places. Tjatindi Kamutuua scored 3,5/7 and was crowned the best female player. Kamutuua was making her début at a classical chess tournament as she took the trophy of Namibia’s women’s champion. A total of 45 players registered but only 42 players participated until round 7 of the championships. The Namibia Chess Federation would also announced the players who will represent Namibia at the 39th Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, from September 19 to October 4. They are: Leonard Mueller, Max Nitzborn, Simon Shidolo, Otto Nakapunda and Charles Eichab.The official sponsor, Sanlam Namibia, had set aside N$16 000 for the championships.

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