30 Mar 2016

Candidate Master (CM), Barileng Gaealafshwe, says he has been  extra motivated to win this year’s Metropolitan National Chess Championships title.

Gaealafshwe won the title for the first time in six years, after producing an unbeaten performance during the national championships finals in Tlokweng over the Easter Holidays. 

The 34-year-old finished the nine rounds competition with 6.5 points after winning four matches and drawing five, collecting a trophy, gold medal and P8 000 first prize.

 “I had not won this competition for a while, so I came extra motivated because I wanted to win it this year. I have been working particularly hard this year in this competition. But, I have been finishing second or third in the previous years, therefore it is not like I have been performing badly,” Gaealafshwe said.

After opening the competition with victory over Oaitse Kokome, Gaealafshwe was held to two draws by Moakofi Notha and Thabo Gumpo. 

He then won a tough match against defending champion, Providence Oatlhotse but was afterwards held to three consecutive draws by Otsile Mapini, Gomolemo Rongwane and Baone Kealeboga.

 But a late flourish of two wins against Thato Olebile and Thuso Mosutlha saw him recover to snatch the hard fought title from under the noses of Olebile and Oatlhotse.

“The level of competition has gone up. There are a lot of good young players coming through and they gave me a tough time. The draws I played in earlier rounds were not easy. I actually had to fight very hard for those draws. I had thought the games against the younger players would be easy but I was mistaken,” Gaealafshwe said.

By winning the national championships, Gaealafshwe has earned a ticket to represent Botswana at the Zone 4.3 Chess Championships in April. 

Fide Master (FM) Thato Olebile settled for second position but level on 6.5 points after losing to Gaealafshwe in a crucial round eight match. Record title holder and defending champion International Master (IM) Providence Oatlhotse finished in third position. 

Woman international master (WIM) Onkemetse Francis won the title in the women section after cruising to eight victories and a single draw to finish with 8.5 points. She got P8 000 first prize, a trophy and gold medal. 

Her runner-up was (WIM) Boikhutso Mudongo with six points, while woman fide master Thapelo Francis finished third with 5.5 points.

“I am really excited to have won it this year because I get the chance to represent my country at the Zone 4.3 Championships. The level of competition was very high but I was just playing very well and managed to hit a winning streak,” Onkemetse said.

Metropolitan Botswana sponsored the competition with P120 000. ENDS