05 Mar 2013

 A senior schools chess tournament held at Madiba Senior School in Mahalapye over the weekend has been hailed as a success.

Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) tournament director, Vincent Masole said in an interview that 19 out of 27 schools participated in the two-day tournament.

Sponsored by Morongwa Securities, the tournament attracted 156 boys and 88 girls from senior schools across the country and Masole explained the event was used as qualifiers for the national tournament billed for April.

Further, at the end of the national championships, a team of Under 8, 12, 16 and 18 would be selected to represent Botswana at the Africa Youth and Africa Junior Chess tournaments.

He said they have had a series of tournaments this year starting with primary and junior schools, adding he has been impressed by the level of commitment from the players.

From the senior schools tournament, 60 boys and girls have been selected to battle it out for the national championship.

Masole said although majority of them were beginning to make a footprint in the chess world, one notable person was Candidate Master, Kebobone Bompheletse who has previously represented Botswana at the Africa Youth.

Meanwhile, Malebogo Keleapere of Maun Senior School emerged victorious in the girl s category with six and a half points, followed by Keritjiua Kandu of Nata Senior School with six points. Lame Kolaatamo of GSS came third also with six points.

Lesabe Tumelano of Maun senior won the boys category with seven points, followed by his school mate Segadimo Kago with six and a half and Otsile Mapini from FSS came third with six points. ENDS