20 Jun 2025

Chess siblings, Vanya and Amour Kaboyaone are appealing to members of the public and the private sector to fund them for the FIDE World Cadet Chess Championship, which will be in Almaty, Kazakhstan in September.

The championship deadline for registration is month end.

In May, the duo represented the country at the 2025 African Individual Championship in Kenya, where Vanya won bronze in the under seven boys’ category while their combined contribution ranked Botswana sixth out of 12 African countries.

Their mother, Katlego Uyapo, said in interview that the World Cadet was a yearly chess tournament, which featured almost all the best players from all over the world with ages ranging from eight, 10 and 12.

The tournament, she said provided players with the opportunity to meet well-polished players such as World Grand Masters to train the players.

She highlighted that it was at such a tournament that some chess players could pick their FIDE ratings by beating highly rated players.

 “There will be training for all the players and their coach, Pudungwane Lesole will mingle with other coaches and learn a thing or two for the benefit of our local coaches and other players, ” she said.

Uyapo said for Vanya to win a bronze medal at the continental tournament for Botswana, he attained rights to be a Candidate Master and the youngest to achieve such a feat.

“He had to work on getting his first ratings and work toward 2000 Elo to get the title next to his name. For now, he needs more games to play in prestigious tournaments,” she said.

Although they currently had to money to sponsor the players to Kazakhstan, she said the players would continue with their preparations.

The Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) public relations officer, Goitsemodimo Makgatle said they were aware of the players’ willingness to compete at the championships.  

However, she said BCF did not have funding at the moment to cover players’ tournament. ENDS