Junior chess players ready to checkmate
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday February 3, 2023 16:30
A strong field is at the inaugural invitational tournament with the girls Under-18 pitting the best in the category. Woman FIDE Master (WFM), Naledi Marape is thirsty for a win after a long dry spell.
Marape was part of the team that participated in the 2022 FIDE Olympiad in Chennai, India. She has the advantage of winning the category but it will not be a walk in the park as she faces stiff competition from Woman Candidate Master (WCM), Natalie Banda. The five players in the Under-18 category grew up together.
The girls gave national team selectors a headache when they were still in the Under-12 category. The Under-18 Open category also boasts strong players. There is also Thuto Mpene but Candidate Master (CM) Iphazha Masala stands in the way. When the two clashed in the previous tournament, Mpene had to dig deep to emerge victorious.
The tournament will be played under FIDE laws of chess as a five rounds Swiss system. Speaking at the launch of the tournament, acting India High Commissioner to Botswana, Mahipal Singh Yadav said his office has been interacting with the youth, especially in the sport fraternity. “That was through India @75 tournaments in table tennis and softball. We have contemplated a cricket tournament of which dates are yet to be finalised. This weekend we are organising the maiden chess tournament in Gaborone,” he said.
Yadav said the other benefit of the tournament is to issue fully funded scholarships for the players in India. Botswana Chess Federation president, Mooketsi Segaise said chess had a relationship with Indian High Commission but it somehow ended. He said they are now looking forward to rebuilding the relationship. “Chess is not only about playing the game itself, it is one of those intellectual activities. We are excited about the scholarships that will be issued to the players. That is one thing that you cannot easily get,” he said.
Prize money Under-18 Winners – P600, second place – P450, third place – P300 Under 14 Winners – P400, second place – P300, third position – P200 Under 12 Winners – P350, second place – P250, third place – P150