Gwanyanya, Capitao take Karibib Grand Prix titles

Finos Gwanyanya and Mora Capitao were crowned champions in the Open and Women’s sections, respectively, at the recently concluded Karibib Open Chess Championships held last weekend at the town’s private school.

The Swiss system tournament, organised by the Namibia Chess Federation, served as the penultimate leg of the Bank Windhoek Grand Prix competitions, which are set to culminate on 23 November in Windhoek.

Speaking about his achievement, Gwanyanya expressed satisfaction, indicating that the victory was crucial for him. “It provides something of substance I can use to encourage my children to play chess more,” he said.

Reflecting on the performance, Gwanyanya recalled the matches between Open section runners-up Ivan Boois (silver medalist) and Israel Shilongo (bronze medalist), as the most challenging throughout the competition.

“Those two matches were very decisive and challenging. I nearly faced defeat but managed to turn things around. They showed that I still need more practice to reduce blunders,” he noted.

“All in all, the level of competition across the boards was very good and I wish for more participants in future,” Gwanyanya said.

Women champion

Women section’s uncontested champion Capitao admitted she was pleasantly surprised by the lack of participation.

She also wished for more participation, especially from women, and encouraged aspiring female players to remain confident, believe in their abilities and stay persistent amidst setbacks.

“Remember – every game is a learning opportunity. Embrace your unique perspective, build a support network, and continue learning and improving, all while enjoying the journey that chess offers,” Capitao advised.

Junior, Cadet winners

In the Junior section, Zeno Mzyrai emerged victorious, closely followed by Johannes Martin, who clinched the silver medal.

Elijah Hartzenberg reigned supreme in the Cadet section, edging out silver medalist Zahro Prinsloo and Phaino Gwanyanya (bronze medalist) to win the overall title.

The competition’s Best Local Player title was awarded to Jamol Kotzee.

Event organiser, Israel Shilongo, lamented the low turnout, attributing it mainly to exams that kept young players, who typically participate, from attending. “Nonetheless, it was successful and a crucial morale booster, especially for participants from Karibib,” he noted.

Expressing optimism about future attendance, he said: “It’s definitely going to attract more players next year. A huge thank you to Bank Windhoek for their continued support in developing chess at the grassroots level.”

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