27 Oct 2015

Chess players across the country on Saturday October 24 put their minds to work as the Botswana Chess League was launched in Tlokweng following a five year hiatus. Despite the resuscitated league running without a sponsor, 12 clubs out of the expected 15 registered to compete in the league that will run until April next year.

The chess federation has put aside P60 000 which would go towards the running of the league and prizes for clubs.

The league opener was a leveled battlefield as every club fielded their best players except for Ice Queens taking a walkover on Poisonous Chess Club who did not turn up hence handing them eight soft points.

The 6-2 figure was common on the day starting with Mochudi Chess Club beating Blue Diamonds whereas Kings  repeated the figures on SICIL  with Delta Pawns closing it down against Jwaneng.

Ramotswa Chess Club and En Pessant narrowly beat their opponents BDF and Black Bishops respectively with a 4.5- 3.5 points.

Internationally decorated players in the likes of Candidate Masters (CM) Thabo Gumpo and Moakofhi Notha, Women International Master, (WIM) Onkemetse Francis and Women Grand Master (WGM), Tuduetso Sabure also proved their mettle to give their clubs the much needed points that would be accumulated in the next six months.

In an interview with the BCF public relations director, Neoyame Katisenge said the turn up was good moreso that the majority of clubs had registered for the league. She expressed joy over the clubs that came as far as Maun and Jwaneng fielding a full team in the league opener.

Katisenge said although it was early to critic the league, the trend was that old clubs had an upper hand.

She said BCF is in the process of sourcing out sponsorship for the league, saying the P60 000 was limiting them as they would want to take the league to other areas in Botswana.

Katisenge stated that the games have been fixtured for the last Saturday of every month so that they favour all the clubs that travel long distances using their own money.

She highlighted that upon culmination of the league, clubs would be awarded prize money, trophies and medals. Ends