The Namibian Chess federation and Iceida (Icelandic International Development Agency) staged the first annual Namibian School Team Tournament last weekend with eight schools represented by 24 teams.. 96 learners participated in this historic tournament, which was played over seven rounds (Swiss System).

Next year a similar tournament is planned for the regions and in the spring of 2006 a national school team‘s championship may be staged.

Five teams were from St Georges‘ Diocese Primary School, followed by four teams each from Ella du Plessis High and Martti Ahtisaari Primary School.

The winner and thus first School Team champion was Ella du Plessis A with team captain Goodwil Khoa. They got 20.5 of a possible 28 points. This team was closely followed by Martti Ahtisaari Primary B, who scored 19.5 after beating Concordia College S 4-0 in the final round. Ella du Plessis High B came in third with 18.5 points. They managed to beat HTS Windhoek.

After the award ceremony, a lucky draw was held to ensure that all the participants had a chance of winning something, as Grandmaster Henrik Danielsen (one of the visitors from Iceland) explained. Thus children take something home and at the same time learn to appreciate chess.