02 Oct 2014

Onkemetse Francis has described winning her first ever Botswana Open Chess Championships ladies title as a great achievement.

The 22-year-old women international master continued her impressive season by defeating women grand master Tuduetso Sabure in a decisive round-nine match at Legae Academy on Independence Day to finish the competition in pole position with 8.5 points.

It was Francis’ second major title this season after winning the Metropolitan National Championships in April.

Botswana’s other women international master, Kgalalelo Botlhole settled for second place with 8 points after beating Chikowore Vimbai from Zimbabwe in the last match.

“I am very excited to win this year’ Botswana Open championship because this was the first time I managed to appear in the top three. I am very happy because I am also the national champion, so winning both the National Championships and Botswana Open is a great achievement for me,” said Francis who received a trophy, gold medal and P6 000 first prize.

Her runner-up Botlhole got silver medal and P4 000 while third placed Boitumelo Radikoro received a bronze medal and P1 575.

Francis said she did not feel any pressure even though she had to contend with the experienced Sabure in the last match.

She also explained that the experience gained from her participation at the chess olympiad in Norway last month helped her in the tournament.

While the locals dominated the ladies section with all the top seven position going to Batswana, the Prestige Section of the competition was won by a Zambian player for the second year running as international master Chitumbo Mwali scooped the top prize with eight points.

Mwali received a trophy, gold medal and P10 000 first prize, while his runner up candidate master Thato Olebile from Botswana got a silver medal and P5 500.

The Open Section was won by Langton Mwanza with Thato Eisha finishing in second place, while Silent Tjituka from Mogoditshane Senior School won the senior boys category, Tembo Seketeni won the junior boys category and Tshepo Sephekolo from Tsogang Primary School won the primary boys category. Ame Kgabotshwene from Mmanaana Junior School won the junior girls category

The championships were sponsored by Debswana with P60 000 and Kalahari Associates with P25 000.

Over 300 players from Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and South Africa competed in the four-day competition. Ends