15 Dec 2013

Thato Olebile is the winner of Chess Blind Fold Championship  after displaying an impressive performance at Tlokweng.

The 22-year-old Thato who won a silver medal defeated International Master Providence Oatlhotse, Goabaone Tangane, Candidate Mater Barileng Gaealafshwe, and Candidate Master Priyav Chandna. He drew with Boikanyo Cinky and Candidate Master Moakofi Notha. 

Thato won a silver medal for Botswana during the Botswana International Open in September after coming joint with Linus Katebe of Zimbabwe. He was honoured with a candidate master title by the World Chess Federation.

He firstly played for the national team in May this year during the Zone 4.3 Chess champs and won. He also won medals on local tournaments including gold during the 2013 Gaborone International Open. Thato is a player of repute; he won a silver medal during the Metropolitan National finals together with his team. He also played board two during NDB Nthuta Club Championships and in all his games, he proved to be too hot to handle by his contenders. 

The runner-ups were Lesego Selemogwe with seven points and Abdul Kamara with six and a half points. Runner-ups on the ladies are Boikhutso Modongo with 8 points winning silver and WCM Kgalalelo Botlhole with 6.5 points winning bronze. ENDS