11 May 2016

Rising chess star Thuso Mosutha has secured a place in the national team that will represent Botswana at the World Chess Olympiad in Azerbaijan in September.

The 22-year-old finished amongst the top five male players during the final tournament of the national team qualifiers held in Tlokweng  recently. Last month Mosutha represented Botswana at the World Amateur Chess Championships in Greece. He won a gold medal at the Africa Amateur Chess Championships in August last year.

Other male players who secured national team places at the two-day tournament were Ndawana Mosenya, Keletshabile Monnatsheko, Otsile Mapini, and candidate master Moakofi Notha. Mosenya finished top of the qualifiers with six points from nine rounds, followed by Monnatsheko who also had six, and Mosutha with 5.5 points.

Mosutha defeated Monnaatsheko, Mosenya, Success Elias and Bojosi Sabure, and played three draws against fide master Thato Olebile, candidate master Oaitse Kokome, and Mapini. He also suffered two defeats against Notha and Mopati Jobe.  

“It will be my first time playing for the national team and I am very excited about it. I think I am coming up well and I am enjoying it. The qualifiers were tough as I had to play difficult matches against strong players,” Mosutha said in an interview.

He said he was fully prepared for the qualifiers having received training from the leading chess player in the country, international master Providence Oatlhotse.

Having started playing in senior tournaments at a tender age four years ago, the youngster seems to be blossoming at the right time. Apart from winning the Africa Amateur Chess Championships, he reached the finals of the Metropolitan National Chess Championships last month where he went on to finish in fifth place.

“I developed the love for chess at a young age from watching my uncle play it. I then started playing it when I went to Gold Mine Junior Secondary School in 2008 and continued playing up to tertiary level,” he said.

The five players who have made it into the ladies team are woman international master Boikhutso Modongo who finished top of the list with 6.5 points, woman international master Onkemetse Francis, woman fide master Thapelo Francis, Khumo Mooketsi and Mabedi Mbo.

According to the Public relations director of Botswana Chess Federation, Keenese Katisenge, the team will engage in friendly tournaments before the Olympiad. ENDS