National coach hopes NCF will train more arbiters

National coach and tournament director of the recently concluded Keetmanshoop Open Chess Championship, Ricky Eiman, has called on the Namibia Chess Federation (NCF) to prioritise the training of more chess arbiters.His call comes in response to growing participation at tournaments in the south.The fifth leg of Bank Windhoek’s Grand Prix series recently took place at Keetmanshoop Primary School and saw 61 players put their strategic skills to the test for crucial rating points.Eiman praised the turnout, saying it exceeded expectations and is a clear sign that chess is gaining momentum, particularly in the southern parts of the country.“It was truly an impressive tournament. It was especially encouraging to see a significant increase in the number of women registering this year,” he said.Eiman, who also serves as NCF Zone 1 chairperson, added that the growing interest signals a need for larger venues “in the near future to comfortably accommodate everyone.”‘Sole arbiter in ?Kharas’He said the growing numbers are a good challenge to have, as it shows how far the local chess community has come.“I am genuinely hopeful that the NCF will prioritise the training of more arbiters across all regions. Their presence is crucial to the smooth running of such tournaments.“Having a pool of trained officials in regions, especially in the ?Kharas Region where I am currently the sole arbiter, will make a huge difference.”While the Keetmanshoop Open turnout was commendable, Eiman is confident there is still room for growth.“To take this to the next level, we need to invest more in coaching development as well. We should also ensure our local clubs and schools have sufficient chess equipment and training material.“If we can address this, we’ll be well on our way to hosting our own tournaments independently and building a strong, self-reliant chess culture in the south,” he said.Tournament winnersThe tournament’s standout performers included Moses Leonard, who was crowned champion of the open section and Sierra Skeyer, who topped the women’s section.Close behind Leonard were Danny Lilata in second place and junior section winner Fritz Hangue in third. In the women’s section, Jo-Dine Hawanga finished second ahead of Jo-Ann April in third.Individual awards went to Virtuous Fufuna as Best Cadet and Mark Kamberipa as Best Local Player.Eiman described the tournament as a huge success, marked by strong sportsmanship and inspiring support from the community.“It is moments like this that remind us of the love of the game.”– mariud@nsh.com.na

National coach hopes NCF will train more arbiters

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National coach hopes NCF will train more arbiters

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