YOUNG OBSERVER | Oshana Open breaks chess participation record

Eugenia Moche

The Oshana Open has set a new benchmark for Namibian chess in the ninth leg of the 2026 Bank Windhoek Grand Prix Series, attracting a record 89 players to Oshana Gymnasium in Ongwediva last week Saturday, 1 August 2026.

The turnout at the Oshana Open became the Bank Windhoek Grand Prix’s largest event in the competition’s history, surpassing previous participation figures recorded at the Swakopmund Open with 76 players, the Keetmanshoop Open with 66 players, and the Walvis Bay Open with 52 players.

The milestone reflects the growing appeal of chess across the country, particularly in the northern regions where the sport is gaining momentum among young players.