06 Nov 2016

The Masters Open Chess Tournament champion, Walter Matekane, has lauded Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) for giving old players platform to compete amongst themselves.

Matekane accumulated six points from seven rounds to lift the title at Cresta President Hotel in Gaborone on Saturday (November 5).

The tournament attracted more than 40 players aged 35 years and above.

Matekane said such  competitions keept old players interested in chess.

“Really the masters’ tournament is one of the best tournaments the chess federation has organised and it must be encouraged. It brings old talent back into the game so that they can keep them in the game.

At the moment I am teaching my children and the more I motivate them through playing the more I raise future chess stars. So I would say BCF did very well by organising this tournament,” Matekane said in an interview.

He won his opening five matches in a row and drew the last two to finish the tournament undefeated.

Notably, he defeated woman international master, Boikhutso Modongo in round-two, fide master Ignatius Njobvu in round-three, and 2014 masters’ champion Baone Kealeboga in round-four en-route to being crowned champion.

“I want to give God all the glory because my performance was just exceptional and it was through his strength and wisdom.

I did not expect to win the tournament more so that my age-mates were quite strong, the likes of Ignatius (Njobvu). We were qualifying for the first
time and really I had counted my chance that I would get 50 per cent of the tournament,” Matekane explained.

He stated that the last round against Bright Sinkamba was tough and mentally draining: “I lost a bit of concentration. I was anxious because I knew that I only needed a draw. Otherwise I had a good tournament.”

Njobvu was the runner-up with 5.5 points, while Kenneth Boikhutshwane finished in third place with 5.5 points.

Modongo was the overall best lady performer for the third year in a row after finishing with three points.

The champion was awarded trophy, gold medal and P4 000 first prize. The tournament has been running for the past nine years. ENDS