WINDHOEK, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Namibia Chess Federation will be hosting national chess championship from the March 20 to 24 in the capital Windhoek.

The purpose of this tournament is to select the official Namibian National Chess teams for male and female to represent the country at international competitions as well as the respective national chess champions for 2019, president of NCF Israel Shilongo said in an exclusive interview Tuesday.

"The tournament will consist of two sections, closed and B-sections with both sections being further divided into subdivisions of open women sections each. There will thus be four sections in total," he said.

He added that the format of the closed open men's section will be a round robin tournament played over nine rounds. Rate of play will be one hour and fifteen minutes plus 30 increments for every move starting from move one.

Shilongo also said the format for the closed women's sections will be a round robin tournament played over nine rounds.