30 Jul 2014

Botswana Chess Federation has sent a team of 10 Batswana players to the 41st Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway scheduled for August 1 -14.

The team left the country on July 30 and comprises five men and five women who will compete against some of the 2 000 players from 180 countries in chess’s biggest stage.

The team finished on position 117 in 2010 and then improved to the 85th spot in 2012 and this year they will be looking to improve their ranking. 

The women team, managed by Keenese Katisenge is blessed with youthful players among others, the 18 year old Women Fide Master (WFM) Thapelo Francis. 

Also in the team is the WFM, Onkemetse Francis who is the current national champion and was recently bestowed the title of Woman Fide Master by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) after winning a silver medal at the 2014 Zonal Championships in Namibia recently. WFM Kgalalelo Botlhole who came with a bronze at the same championships in Namibia is also in the team.

Bringing the experience into the women’s team is Women International Master (WIM) Boikhutso Modongo who has played for the national team since 1998 and also the most decorated female player in Botswana, having won the national championship four times during her career.

Adding to the experience is WIM Tshepiso Lopang who is the chair of the newly-formed Women’s Commission in Botswana and also former National Women’s Champion.

In the men’s team, managed by Vincent Masole, they have Candidate Master (CM) Thato Olebile who is the youngest player among the men and won a bronze medal at this year’s Metropolitan National Chess Championships. 

CM Moakofi Notha of Bonyonyo Chess Club is also one of the players who will take part in the tournament.

CM Barileng Gaelafshwe, who won a silver medal at the Metropolitan National Chess Championships, is part of the team. 

Also in the team is national champion Fide Master (FM) Phemelo Khetho who brings a lot of experience into the team having played at the Olympiad before. 

Another Olympiad veteran FM and former national champion, Ignatius Njobvu also brings experience into the team.

During the team’s send off at Yarona Lodge on Tuesday 29th, the BCF Vice President Administration, Roger Tiroyamodimo who is also the head of delegation said the team was desirous of doing better by winning a category medal. “Our determination and morale will take the nation’s flag high and we will not disappoint” he said.

Giving the team a word of encouragement, Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC), Sports Developmnet Manager-Technical, Bobby Gaseitsiwe told the team to sell Botswana and learn from the best. “Chess is an intellectual game and therefore, you should never give up” he told the players. 

He thanked BCF for their commitment in sending players to the Olympiad despite financial constraints.

Also joining the team is arbiters, Dr Moathodi Kgosimore and Kutlwano Tatolo who will officiate at the biggest stage for the first time. Giving his word, Dr Kgosimore said they would do the country proud by exercising the rules of the game and being fair at all times. 

He said he would aim for a higher title at the Olympiad and surpass what he couldn’t do as a player.

The team is coached by the Russian Grand Master, Igor Glek who was recently recalled by BCF to lead the team after improving their performance at the last Chess Olympiad in Turkey. 

The team will return to Botswana on the 16th of August. 

They are expected to bring a category medal and also improve rankings. ENDS