22 Jan 2026

The Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) national team selection continues into its second phase at the University of Botswana this weekend. 
A communication from BCF marketing and communication manager, Goitsemodimo Makgatle says the second stage of the selection invite all chess players who have qualified from the first stage. The second stage will feature top 20 players from the open section and top 18 women from the ladies section who made it past the first round selection.
The communication says current top two ranked players in the country both in the men and women categories being International Master (IM) Providence Oatlhotse and Woman Fide Master (WFM) Natalie Banda respectively will automatically be included in the national team.
It further indicates that the tournament shall be run under FIDE international chess federation laws of chess as a seven round swiss system.
Additionally, eight players from both the open section and ladies section will qualify for the third and final round of the national team selection process. ENDS