12 Jun 2013

Kgalalelo Bothole and Thato Olebile were crowned this year’s Gaborone Open Chess champions in the women section and open section categories respectively.

Kgalalelo pocketed P1 500, a trophy and a gold medal after she emerged the winner with 6.5 points, followed by Women International Master (WIM) Boikhutso Modongo, with six points that earned her P1 000 and a silver medal. The bronze medal went to Boitshepo Rebatenne with 5.5 points.

In the open section, Thato scooped position one with 6.5 points in the finals and pocketed P2 500, a trophy and a gold medal, followed by Oatlhotse Providence and Monnathseko Keletshabile with six points each to take home P700 each.

The two-day tournament, which was held at Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School, was also categorised according to the best junior and senior players, best primary girl and boy.

In the category of best primary boy and girl, junior and senior players, the first position was awarded with gold medals, the second position with silver medals and the third position with bronze medals.

 Meanwhile, defending champion in the Open Section Fide Master (FM) Ignatius Njobvu was not able to attend this year’s tournament while Gorata Loso, who was the defending champion in the women section, performed badly this time around.

This is an annual tournament that the federation has been running for the past three years. This year’s tournament was made possible with P20 000 financial support from the Botswana Chess Federation and Airfficiency, a supplier of medical and laboratory equipment. ENDS