04 Apr 2013

Fide Master (FM) Ignatius Njobvu is the 2013 open section national champion of the 6th Metropolitan National Chess Championships held at Yarona Country Lodge over the Easter Holidays.

He accumulated seven points out of a possible nine winning himself P7 000, a gold medal and trophy. Second position went to an upcoming youngster, Thato Olebile  who is a student at the University of Botswana. He got 6.5 points and walked away with P4 750 and a silver medal.

Olebile gave the seniors and experienced players a tough time, drawing with Barileng Gaealafshwe from Mobile Chess Club, beating the once secretary general of the Botswana Chess Federation (BCF),  Kenneth Boikhutswana and Gomolemo Rongwane from Delta Pawns Chess Club.

Fide Master (FM) Phemelo Khetho came third with six points and won P3 000.  The tournament proved difficult for International Master  (IM) Providence Oatlhotse who could not defend his title.

In the ladies section, Women International Master (WIM,) Boikhutso Mudongo managed to retain her title with eight points and was crowned the 2013 Ladies Section National Champion after beating Women Grand Master (WGM), Tuduetso Sabure in the last round. Mudongo won herself P4 000, a gold medal and trophy.

Women Fide Master (WFM), Kgalalelo Botlhole, a student at University of Botswana, came second with 7.5 points after losing to Mudongo and drawing with Sabure. She walked away with P2 350 and a silver medal.

Third and fourth positions were attained by Gorata Leso and Women Candidate Master (WCM), Onkemetse Francis with five (5) points each, receiving P1 450 each.

Speaking at the prize giving ceremony, Botswana National Sports Council Chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng applauded Metropolitan for the contribution the company was making in the society by sponsoring the tournament on annual basis. This was the sixth year running that Metropolitan had sponsored the National Chess Championships. The winners of the 2013 National Champions would represent the country at the upcoming Africa Individual Chess Championships scheduled for Tunisia in May. ENDS