30 Oct 2014

The eighth edition of annual chess Masters Open is scheduled for Tlokweng on November 1.

Established in 2006, the Masters Open was sponsored by Turbo Refrigeration for the past seven years and this year the company availed P17 000 for the competition.  The Masters Open was an initiative by Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) to provide players over the age of 35 with platform to continue playing chess.

“The tournament is open to all players from the age of 35 and above. The initiative helps BCF to retain these players thus being able to tap into their experience and wisdom for the development of the game,” said BCF publicity director, Keenese Katisenge.

Among others, veteran players like the 2014 Roscoe Bonna blitz winner Baone Kealeboga, Kenneth Boikhutshwane, Walter Mathekane, Moatlhodi Kgosimore and Boikhutso Modongo.

Apart from offering older players a chance to compete with each other, the Masters Open was used by the federation for the past two years to extend its social responsibility gesture by encouraging old players to mentor primary school kids in the game.

In 2012, BCF and Turbo Refrigeration donated chess equipment to Shadishadi Primary School in the Kweneng District, while the competition winner last year Jona Chaka, was asked to choose a primary school to adopt and select students to mentor for a period of one year. 

He settled for Metsimotlhabe Primary School, also in Kweneng District. “Masters Open is a further extension of our commitment to grassroots development, by awakening the interest of mentors and trainers for our younger players. 

Playing the game of chess right from childhood improves thinking, analytical power, and decision-making ability of the child. For chess to continue to grow in Botswana, it has to start from grassroots,” said Katisenge.

Katisenge said the winner of this year’s event will also have an opportunity to choose a social responsibility project. ENDS