04 Jul 2017

International master Providence Oatlhotse produced an unbeaten performance to win the Gaborone Open International Chess Championships over the weekend.

The chess star claimed six victories and a draw from seven rounds to secure the title at Gaborone International School.

It was Oatlhotse's second major domestic trophy this year having also won the Airfficiency Year Opener in January.

He said even though the competition was tough he managed to control everything because he had prepared well.

"Basically across the whole tournament I was playing much better. I was leading the whole time. I think I am getting back to regaining the motivation I lost a couple of years ago," said the 32-year-old, who collected a trophy, gold medal and P3 000 cash prize.

Candidate Master Thuso Mosutha finished in second position with six points and collected silver medal and P1 575 cash prize.

Defending champion Spencer Masango could only manage third place and bronze medal this time around.  

Woman Grand Master (WGM) Tuduetso Sabure won the ladies title with six points and pocketed P2 300 cash prize.

Her runner-up was woman international master Tshepiso Lopang with 5.5 points while woman candidate master Koziba Mokhuzeni came third with five points.

Sabure attributed her success to researching a lot about the game. She explained that the ladies section had become tougher.

"I am happy to have won the championship. Many people have improved, the last time I played here there were not many woman candidate masters, today we have about three kids with those titles and I was really impressed with the way they played," she said.

Tefo Philime won the boys' under 16 category with Iphaza Masala and Mooketsi Dintwa settling for silver and bronze medals respectively.

Woman candidate master Refilwe Gabatshwarwe won the girls' under 16 category while Ruth Otisitswe and Thandi Bonno got silver and bronze medals respectively.

The tournament was sponsored by Kalahari Associates with P30 000. ENDS