08 May 2025

Top chess players will battle it out in the Metropolitan Chess Championship finals, which started on Thursday until Sunday.

Sponsored by Metropolitan with P160 000, the championships mark the end of the sponsorship.

Botswana Chess Federation (BCF)’s Public Relations and Marketing Officer, Goitsemodimo Makgatle said the chess community would witness the battle to win the last crown of the Metropolitan-sponsored chess championship.

Makgatle said the finals would feature the best of the best in local chess as 10 men and 10 women would give their all as the fight to be crowned the male and female 2025 champions respectively.

In the male category, the 10 finalists are defending champion and seven time national champion, International Master (IM) Providence Oatlhotse, Candidate Master (CM), Moakofi Notha, Thuso Mosutha (CM), Oaitse Kokome (CM), Thuto Mepene, Oratile Kgotlane, Gaasite Sebetlela, Gofaone Kobe, first time finals qualifier Ofile Mothanka and Kingsley Mokwena.

The women’s open category will feature Women Federation Master (WFM) who is also the defending champion Natalie Banda, Thandi Bonno, Thapelo Francis (WFM), Reddy Nalamalpu, Women Candidate Master (WCM) Amolemo Mosweu, Boitumelo Radikoro, Maya Otimile (WCM), Judith Mothokatse, Phoebe Moshoboro (WCM) and Kgomotso Ndachipiwa.

The qualifiers saw 180 local chess players gather at Livingstone Kolobeng College on the weekend of March 22-23 from which 40 players have qualified for second round qualifying stage from which the 10 finalists in both the men and women open sections were selected.

The two decades mutual and beneficial relationship between BCF and Metropolitan Botswana was concluded on March 27, where the final sponsorship was launched.

Over the duration of the partnership with BCF, Metropolitan has contributed to the growth of the sport, sponsoring the annual championship with over P1.5 million.

Meanwhile, the Botswana Volleyball League will conclude at Sir Seretse Khama Barracks volleyball courts on Saturday. The final matches will be followed by the trophy award ceremony.

Botswana Volleyball Federation’s Marketing Officer, Shakes Mogami, said in the women’s league, BDF VI and Police VI would play a decider match on with winner being crowned champions. Both teams are currently equal on points. Mafolofolo has secured third position.

Mogami said Police were already confirmed as men champions and therefore their participation on Saturday would be merely to honour the remaining fixtures.

However, Mogami said the battle for second spot would be intense, as three teams being Kutlwano, Spiking Stars and Mag Stimela would have to open their arsenal to secure the second spot.

Botswana Softball Association will also hold all day festivities to celebrate World Baseball Softball Day at the National Diamond in Gaborone Saturday. ENDS