03 Dec 2018

Young chess sensation Besa Masaiti continued her meteoric rise by winning the 2018 Botswana Junior Open Chess Championships under-21 girls’ title on December 2.

The 16-year-old woman fide master was in blistering form as she registered straight victories to finish top with five points from five rounds. 

She beat Ofina Karabo, Mpho Ramaselwane and Gaone Mpulubusi in the first three rounds before downing her toughest challenger, Linda Shaba in round four. Victory against Shaba cleared the way for Masaiti to go on and claim the title while Shaba settled for position two with three points. 

Masaiti, who plays for Rock and Roll Masters, walked away with P1 000 cash prize and a gold medal. 

The victory continued the teenager’s eye catching performances on the board. 

Earlier this year, she gave a good account of herself at the Chess Olympiad held in Georgia and won a bronze medal in the 2018 Metropolitan National Chess Championships. 

Last year, she represented the country at the 2017 World Schools Chess Championships. 

Tapiwa Chikwavaire from Zimbabwe won the boys’ Under-21 title followed by Opelo Maswabi.

The tournament, which is the biggest junior chess competition in Botswana, was held over three days at Botho University in Gaborone. It was organised by Limitless Minds Chess Academy in partnership with Rock and Roll Chess Masters and Motif Chess club. 

It attracted around 180 participants from Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, playing in 16 categories for boys and girls. There was also a braille section for visually impaired players from Mochudi Resource Centre. 

Joseph Habulevi won the Under-19 boys’ title with 5.5 points from seven rounds while fide master Nshikokola Mutailenu won the boys’ under 17 title with six points. 

The boys’ under 15 title went to Oageng Chalashika of Francistown School of Chess with seven points while the boys’ under 13 title went to Tefo Pitlagano with five points. 

Candidate master Iphazha Masala from Baobab school claimed the boys Under-11 title with seven points. Lefa Mogome won the boys’ under 9 with six points while Shepherd Madzikwa from Zimbabwe won the boys’ under 7 category with three points.

In the girls section, Segolame Duzane from Francistown School of Chess won the Under-19 category, Loago Badisang from Moroka Chess Academy won the Under-17 category with another Moroka academy player, Refilwe Gabatshwane, winning the Under-13 category.

Natalie Banda from Chess Motifs won the Under-11 category while Nagasitha Hasitha from Baobab school won the Under-9 category. Orefile Moatshe from Francistown School of Chess won the under 7 category.

The tournament was sponsored by Botswana Public Officers Medical Aid Scheme, Mascom Wireless, Botho University, Mamlathan and Associates, Khayelihle Guest House and Impression House. ENDS