All is now set for the Sanlam Namibia National Chess Championships, which will be held from 18 to 23 March at Thuringer Hof Hotel. An initiative of the Namibian Chess Federation (NCF), Sanlam has sponsored this year’s national championship with N$15000, a cheque of which was presented to the chess federation by Sanlam's Chief Executive Officer Tertius Stears. He said sports development is one the major focus areas of the company's social responsibility projects that will positively influence the lives and aspirations of all Namibians.

Competing at last year's Sanlam Namibia National Chess Championships was Charles Sidney Eichab. He won the 2007 National Chess Championship.

Stears strongly believes that sport, in whatever form, lays the foundation for building character that makes worthy citizens and leaders of the future.
Max Nitzborn, the President of the Namibia Chess Federation, paid tribute to Sanlam for the sponsorship and urges all chess players to participate in the National Championship.
He said the registration forms and tournament regulations can be downloaded from the federation's website, and all members are reminded to pay their annual membership fees.
Nitzborn said interested people can register at the NCF offices and the championship is only open to Namibian citizens to participate.
He said the Olympic teams of men (4) and women (5) will be selected from this event. The registration fee for members is N$100 (adults), N$50 for students and N$30 for learners and there is a refundable deposit of N$50 payable on registration.