03 Mar 2014

The team for this year’s Metropolitan National Chess Championship was selected this past weekend at Wingate Hotel in Francistown.

Only 20 players were selected from both the men’s and women’s open on Saturday, March 1 for the national championship, which will be played in Gaborone.

The defending champions, Fide Master Ignatius Ndjobvu and Women International Master Boikhutso Mudongo, who did not feature in the last round of qualifiers, joined the open at this stage and both booked their ticket for the final.

Leading the table in the women’s open was Onkemetse Francis with 5.5 points, followed by Kgalalelo Botlhole with five points. Gaining a maximum of 4.5 points on position three was Malebogo Sokisi, a form four student from Mater Spei College, while position four was Boitshepo Rebatenne.

The fifth position was attained by Gorata Lesego followed by Boikhutso Modongo and Tshepiso Lopang on position six and seven respectively.

Leading players who obtained four points were Kandu Kiritjua, a rising star who completed form five last year at Nata Senior Secondary School, in position nine was Mabedi Mbo and Thapelo Francis obtained position 10.

Topping the men’s table was Barileng Gaealafshwe with six points, followed by Abel Dziilani on five points. With 4.5 points, the third position went to Tumelo Seane, followed by Ndjobvu, Phemelo Khetho on position five and Moakofhi Notha on position six.

Sharing a spoil of four points was Thato Olebile on seventh position, Abdul Kamara on eighth position, Ndawana Mosenya on nine and Cinky Boikanyo on tenth position.

On women`s section, defending champion Mudongo, who is on position six said the most important thing for the open was to book a place for the final, as it is not necessary to gain a lot of points at this stage.

“I had to save my energy for the upcoming final as it is not important to give out one’s best at such a level because your opponent might study your weakness and later punish you, so I am happy I have done the job to reach final,” she said.

According to Keenese Katisenge, the communications director of Botswana Chess Federation (BCF), the champions from both ends will make it into the provisional teams that will eventually represent the country at the chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway in August 2014.  ENDS