Chess team gears for Olympiad

The team includes national champion and International Master (IM) Providence Oatlhotse, who has played four times in the Olympiad, and Moakofi Notha, who has made three appearances at one of chess's biggest stages. The BCF public relations director, Goitsemodimo Makgatle, said the team was picked through the national team selection chess championships that kicked off in January. “It was through a three-stage tournament, with the inclusion of the Metropolitan Botswana national champions in both the respective Open and Women's sections where Oatlhotse and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Natalie Banda were crowned in May. The national champions were given a free pass into the team,” she said.

The first qualifiers were held in January, with the second, between February 10 and 11 while the finals took place on February 29 to March 3. Makgatle said as part of preparations, Grandmaster Ankit Rajpara from India coached the team online. Speaking to MmegiSport, Banda said she is excited about getting an opportunity to play at the Olympiad. “I have been preparing for the games and I am looking forward to the Olympiad,” she said. Former senior national team coach, Pudungwane Lesole, said on paper, Botswana has a balanced team, with the best players in the country at the moment. He said the players have gone through a rigorous process of trials and play-offs early this year. “We must fully support them as they will be competing in one of the biggest global sporting events. The team has been training online with Indian Grandmaster Ankit for a month or so. But honestly, it is hard to tell how the team will perform generally because most players in the team have not been playing, especially events with time controls that match those at the Olympiad,” he said.

Lesole said ideally, training must be complemented by a lot of playing-in conditions, which resemble the environment that they will compete in. “That is the concrete way to really get some insights on your preparations. So, only one player, (Oatlhotse) in the team has been actively playing such events. I am a bit worried that might compromise the team’s overall performance,” he said. On individual boards, it will be interesting to see how Keletshabile Monnaatsheko will perform. He has been amazing in the few events he has played lately. Monnaatsheko has put a lot of effort into the quality of his game since the Chennai 2022 Olympiad. He revamped and broadened up his opening repertoire to match the demands of the global stage. Lesole is confident that Monnaatsheko will return home with a title. Kuda Bayani is the only new face in the men’s team, but he is very experienced and he is a huge natural talent.

In the women’s team, Lesole said one player to follow closely is Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Refilwe Gabatshware, as she makes her Olympiad debut. “I think she is one of the most naturally gifted woman players that we ever had. Her style of play is ultra solid and most importantly she has a strong will to win,” Lesole said. WCM Banda is on top form, winning back-to-back national titles and doing well in continental events. She is highly motivated to finally get her WFM title as she is only 7 elo points away. Lesole said his worry about Banda is her Form Five examinations. “I hope that will not disturb her during the Olympiad together with another Form Five candidate, WCM Atlang Mosweu,” he added.

The team

Open Section Name: Providence Oatlhotse Title: International Master (IM) FIDE Rating: 2, 239

Name: Kuda Bayani Title: None FIDE Rating: 1, 931

Name: Kgotlane Oratile Title: None FIDE Rating: 1, 975

Name: Keletshabile Monnaatsheko Title: None FIDE Rating: 2, 064

Name: Moakofi Notha Title: None FIDE Rating: 1, 996

Women’s Section Name: Naledi Marape Title: Woman FIDE Master (WFM) FIDE Rating: 1, 926

Name: Natalie Katlo Banda Title: Woman Candidate Master (WCM) FIDE Rating: 1, 893

Name: Refilwe Gabatshware Title: Woman Candidate Master (WCM) FIDE Rating: 1, 787

Name: Atlang Amolemo Mosweu Title: Woman Candidate Master (WCM) FIDE Rating: 1, 797 Name: Boitshepo Rebatenne Title: None FIDE Rating: 1, 696