23 Aug 2016

The Chess national team players have used the Botash international Open Chess Championships that was held in Sowa recently as part of their preparations for the chess Olympiad to be held in Baku. 

 The team made up of five men and five women which include Women International Master Boikhutso Mudongo and Women Fide Master Thapelo Francis.

In an interview Mudongo, she said taking part in the tournament would help them perfect their time as the team would leave on August 20. 

“Even though we had enough time to prepare, we are still making use of opportunities such as the Botash tournament  to improve on our thinking and time,” she said. 

She emphasised the importance of going to the Olympics saying they were bound to meet stiff competition from Europe and Asia players.

 “It is going to be the team playing against the best in the world.”

Mudongo said in such competitions, each player would have to look at how others were playing and fight for the team to get a good position.

She also highlighted that junior national team player Khumo Mooketsi was away in South Africa competing in African Youth Chess Championship. She said this was a plus to the team as she would be sharpening her tactics in preparation for the world competition.

At the Botash tourney, for the first time in history of Chess in Botswana, a Grand Master took part in the two days championship. Grand Master Marian Petrov from Bulgaria is in the country to prepare both junior and senior national teams for the Olympics. He also came for the official opening of Kids Academy in Gaborone. Ends