Yarona hosts Roscoe Bonna speed chess tournament

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday October 25, 2013 15:17

 

BCF public relations officer, Keenese Katisenge told Mmegi Sport that the speed chess tournament is open to everyone including players from outside the country. She explained that chess fans favour blitz because each player is given five minutes to complete a game. She said that the Swiss individual system will be used at the 11-round tournament.

“A game of chess can be lost on the board and also on time. Speed Chess teaches players to think fast and to learn to manage their time well during the game.

There are many instances where Botswana players lost their games because of time at international level. This is one of the tournaments that is targeted at helping players to improve on time management,” Katisenge explained. Roscoe Bonna Property Valuers have donated P10,000 to sponsor the annual tournament. Katisenge said the tournament was not held last year for the first time due to celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of BCF. Some of the players who have won the tournament before include International Master, Providence Oatlhotse and Fide Master Phemelo Phethu.   Katisenge said that chess players who are interested in taking part in the tournament must register at BCF. Registration will be on even on the day of the event. The winner of the tournament will walk away with P1,200. The runner-up pockets P800 and the third prize is P700. The fourth player will be rewarded with P500 while fifth and sixth spot earns P300 and P200 respectively.  In the women category, the winner will take home P1,000, while the runner-up gets P600. The third prize is P400 while the player who will finish fourth will take home P300.

Meanwhile, Katisenge said chess has grown over the years and when they have tournaments, they have to limit the number of participants.  She said that the blitz tournament is in line with the federation’s continued commitment to introduce chess at primary schools. Katisenge said as part of the event, Rosco Bonna will donate chess equipment to a selected primary school in Broadhurst. She added that BCF would drill pupils at the school in chess for a year.