09 Feb 2014

The Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) will, on February 11, launch the annual Metropolitan sponsorship at Oasis Motel in Tlokweng.

Metropolitan Botswana has a long standing relationship with BCF which could be traced back to the early 2006 with the company sponsoring the National Chess Championships on an annual basis.

The 2013 championships were sponsored with P80 000 and Metropolitan Botswana increased the sponsorship amount with P28 750, taking the total 2014 sponsorship amount to P108 750.

In an interview, BCF public relations director, Keenese Katisenge said all announcements relating to the positive impact brought about by the 2014 sponsorship such as the increase in tournament prizes and others would also be made at the launch.  

Katisenge explained that the Metropolitan Chess Championships was the most anticipated event in the Botswana Chess Calendar and that it was the only event that brings players together to battle for the coveted National championship title.  

She said the annual event has produced the country’s most reputable players who were now a force to reckon with at both regional and international level.

“The Metropolitan series has earned its position as the country’s best attended event and this has distinctively been driven among others by the following salient features.

It is the only National Championship event in the country, producing champions from both men and ladies section”.  

She further explained that the event which brings in an array of players with different chess understanding and strength was now a reputable brand and has prompted many people to take up chess and aspire for the country’s most celebrated title.  

She said the first round of the championships, which would be held from February 15-16, would attract all players of different strengths and levels and that the tournament would be hosted in Gaborone for both Open and ladies sections.

The open section was for all the players who aspire for the championship and women/ladies were welcome to partake in the section and that it was the toughest section of the championship.

The ladies champion would eventually emerge after winning through the stages. 

Top 24 from the open section and top 18 from the ladies section will qualify to the next round.

Katisenge said the round, which would be in Francistown from March 1-2, would see the top 24 from the Open section and the top 18 ladies battle it out for the last stage of the championship which will be held in Gaborone on April 14 where a champion would emerge from both the Open and ladies section.

The champions from both ends will make it into the provisional teams that will eventually represent the country at the Chess Olympiad in Norway, Tromso in August 2014. ENDS