10 Sep 2014

The Botho University Chess Championships is billed for the university’s hall over the weekend.

The competition, which is organised by Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) in partnership with Botho University, is open for all senior secondary school teams.

Additionally, junior schools teams that finished in top three positions in the boys and girls sections at the 2014 Mater Spei College Chess tournament have been invited to participate at the event, which starts on Saturday morning (September 13) and ends the next day, Sunday afternoon.

They are Tsodilo JSS from Maun, Mosethata from Bobonong, and Goldmine from Francistown, which will play in the boys’ section.

The other three; Nkange, Sua JSS A team, and Sua JSS B team, will play in the girls’ section. Botho University is sponsoring the competition with P120 000.

BCF public relations director, Keenese Katisenge said the competition will be played in seven rounds, with the first four rounds set for Saturday and the last three played on Sunday.

Katisenge, who explained that the competition would be played in boys’ and girls’ sections said: “There is no age limit; players are eligible for the tournament as long as they go to senior secondary schools.”

She added that each secondary school was allowed to field a maximum of two teams per category. 

She further said the tournament would offer desk top computers and medals as prizes for champions, demonstration boards and medals for first runner-ups, and chess sets and medals for second runner-ups.

“The champions will also have the right to participate in the 2014 National Clubs Chess Championships where strong community clubs from around the country fight for glory and recognition. 

The Federation is also using the tournament as a practice event for Under 14, 16 and 18 players who will represent Botswana at the 2014 World Youth Chess Championships in Durban South Africa from the 18-30 September 2014,” Katisenge said. ENDS