Nakapunda gets Candidate Master chess title

CHESS ace Otto Zandell Nakapunda became Namibia’s second titled player when he got titled Candidate Master (CM) by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).

The other titled player is Swiss-based Leonhad Mueller who obtained his FIDE Master title in 1996. The two are, however, still light-years away from the most coveted titles: International Master and Grand Master.Nakapunda got the title after his performance at the World Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy.He was Namibia’s top scorer with 5.5 points.The good news came last week via e-mail from the FIDE head office in Elista, Kalmykia.”This is just the beginning,” he exclaimed, further adding that the FIDE Master title was within his grasp.”But to really make it in chess, one has to work even harder and become an International Master to live off chess.”CM Nakapunda (30) was all smiles when describing some of the games that brought him recognition: “I played some beautiful chess, especially when we defeated Fiji and Hong Kong.I was also lucky at time and managed to do a Houdini,” referring to his escape against Liechtenstein when he came back from a lost position to force his oppononent to capitulate.But as the saying goes in chess: “You have to be good to be lucky”.The two are, however, still light-years away from the most coveted titles: International Master and Grand Master.Nakapunda got the title after his performance at the World Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy.He was Namibia’s top scorer with 5.5 points.The good news came last week via e-mail from the FIDE head office in Elista, Kalmykia.”This is just the beginning,” he exclaimed, further adding that the FIDE Master title was within his grasp.”But to really make it in chess, one has to work even harder and become an International Master to live off chess.”CM Nakapunda (30) was all smiles when describing some of the games that brought him recognition: “I played some beautiful chess, especially when we defeated Fiji and Hong Kong.I was also lucky at time and managed to do a Houdini,” referring to his escape against Liechtenstein when he came back from a lost position to force his oppononent to capitulate.But as the saying goes in chess: “You have to be good to be lucky”.