05 Feb 2015

Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) will this weekend stage qualifiers for the eighth Metropolitan National Chess Championships at the Paddock in Phase 2.

The BCF and Metropolitan  partnership saw the sponsorship deal increase to P120 000 this year.

The tournament managed to pull over 200 players across the country for the two-legged qualifiers. The top 17 women and top 23 men will be drawn out from the masses and await the second round on March 7-8 in Gaborone.

In the women section, defending champions Woman International Master (WIM) Onkemetse Francis and open section incumbent Fide Master Phemelo Khetho automatically qualify for the second leg where they would seek to stamp authority following an impressive year for the duo.

Khetho, who is a five time record holder, is in for a challenge as he runs up against seasoned players in the likes of Fide Master Thato Olebile, International Master (IM) Providence Oatlhotse and CM Barileng Gaealafshwe.

The open section surely promises to be action packed and a bumpy one as it fields strong players like Candidate Master (CM) Moakofhi Notha, Otsile Mapini and CM Thabo Gumpo who can not be ruled out from the finals bracket.

Francis one hand is still reeling from a successful year in 2014 where she was bestowed with WIM title and being the only woman who has won the national championship four times.

Nevertheless experienced players such as Woman International Masters (WIM), Boikhutso Mudongo pose a threat owing that a lot is at stake since the champions will be representing Botswana at the regional competitions.

The return of Women Grandmaster Tuduetso Sabure is set to stir up things in the women camp challenging young players like Kgalalelo Botlhole and Gorata Leso to maintain a good run.

The finals are penciled for the Easter holidays where brains will grind for the coveted prize which is yet to be announced. In an interview BCF public relations director, Keenese Katisenge stated that BCF is still to finalise the prize money for the championships. 

Nevertheless, she said players knocked out at the second leg of the qualifiers will be awarded consolation prizes. Katisenge further stated that a top 10 from both open and ladies section will go to the finals. ends