Otto Nakapunda is blitz chess champion

THE inaugural Independence Blitz chess tournament held on Saturday in Katutura turned out to be a two-horse race between Otto Z.

Nakapunda and Max B. Nitzborn, which Nakapunda won by the smallest of margins.He scored 13 out of 14, with Nitzborn a mere half point behind.The race for third place was an even affair between Lukas Amakali, Terence Katjiuanjo, Tikila Munashimwe, Goodwill Khoa and prodigy Julian Isaak.They all scored 9 points.The tie-break system had Munashimwe taking bronze while Khoa took the honours of Best Junior.Jessica Isaak walked away with the Best Female prize.As the Blitz King of Namibia, Nakapunda also received the Job “Zarp” Ndimwedi Floating Trophy.Ndimwedi was a top junior player with an attacking flair resembling Kasparov’s, and mentor to Nakapunda.He was murdered in 1992.The tournament, which saw 182 games played, was described a success by the organisers and they hope to make it bigger and better next year.It is the first time a tournament of this magnitude has been staged in Katutura.Many spectators said they had never seen a chess board before.NamSports.com sponsored the event.The Deputy Director of Sport, Shivute Katamba, did the honours at the prize-giving ceremony.Nitzborn, which Nakapunda won by the smallest of margins.He scored 13 out of 14, with Nitzborn a mere half point behind.The race for third place was an even affair between Lukas Amakali, Terence Katjiuanjo, Tikila Munashimwe, Goodwill Khoa and prodigy Julian Isaak.They all scored 9 points.The tie-break system had Munashimwe taking bronze while Khoa took the honours of Best Junior.Jessica Isaak walked away with the Best Female prize.As the Blitz King of Namibia, Nakapunda also received the Job “Zarp” Ndimwedi Floating Trophy.Ndimwedi was a top junior player with an attacking flair resembling Kasparov’s, and mentor to Nakapunda.He was murdered in 1992.The tournament, which saw 182 games played, was described a success by the organisers and they hope to make it bigger and better next year.It is the first time a tournament of this magnitude has been staged in Katutura.Many spectators said they had never seen a chess board before.NamSports.com sponsored the event.The Deputy Director of Sport, Shivute Katamba, did the honours at the prize-giving ceremony.