Plans afoot to bring back Botswana Open
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday February 17, 2026 08:18
The tournament was last played in 2021 and was sponsored by Debswana Mining Company.
BCF president, Kutlwano Jady Tatolo, said the idea is for the tournament to be played although the lack of sponsorship makes it difficult for them to plan.
She said the Botswana Open is crucial for the development of chess in Botswana, serving as the premier platform for talent identification, national team selection, and competitive growth.
“As FIDE-rated tournaments, they directly contribute to improving the local and international ratings of players, with a specific aim to enhance Botswana’s ranking on the FIDE global list,” she said in an interview with Sport Monitor.
“That is why we are pleading with the business community to come onboard to assist. Botswana Open also attracts players from neighbouring countries.”
Meanwhile, the 2026 national team selection finals have ended following two days of intense battle for a slot for the Olympiad team.
The national team selection, which started towards end of 2025, was held in phases being the first-stage qualifiers, second-stage, and final, or top-8, trials to narrow down the pool.
The weekend action at Yarona Country Lodge in Mogoditshane brought days of intense battles, brilliant tactics, and unwavering determination to a thrilling close.
After a fiercely contested tournament, the top four players in each category have successfully booked their places into the National Team, earning the honor to represent the nation on the international stage.
The team will represent Botswana at the 46th Chess Olympiad to be will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan this year.
The prestigious international team tournament is scheduled to take place from September 15 to 28, with events expected to be hosted at the Silk Road International Exhibition Center.
From the very first round, it was clear that only the strongest, most consistent, and most resilient would survive the pressure. Every move mattered. Every point counted. And in the end, excellence prevailed.
In the Open Section, Arnold Mothudi emerged as tournament winner, marking a proud and symbolic return to elite competitive chess.
Mothudi, who was a formidable presence during his youth career, now returns to the senior national team in outstanding fashion, reaffirming his enduring quality and experience.
Former national champion, Candidate Master (CM) Thuso Mosutlha, has also booked himself a slot in the national team.
Youth players, Candidate Master (CM) Sebetlela Gaasite and CM Thuto Mpene, have earned senior national team selection for the first time.
Tatolo said qualifying for the senior national team by Gasite and Mpene reflects the continued success of Botswana’s youth development programmes and signals a strong and promising future for the sport.
In the Women’s Section, seasoned national representatives Women International Master (WIM) Dr Onkemetse Francis and Women FIDE Master (WFM) Thapelo Francis once again demonstrated their class and consistency by securing qualification.
They will be joined by three youth players being Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Maya Otimile, WCM Phoebe Moshoboro, and WCM Atang Mosweu.
The quartet in each category are joined by the two highest rated players in the country being International Master (IM) Providence Oatlhotse and WFM Natalie Banda respectively.
“The achievements if youth players mark an important milestone in their careers and further strengthens the future of women’s chess in Botswana.
“The participation at the Olympiad marks an important opportunity to showcase Botswana’s growing strength on the international stage,” Tatolo said.
In addition, Botswana will host the Africa Individual Chess Championship in June 2026, where members of the Botswana Senior National Team will represent the host nation against Africa’s top players.
Tatolo said hosting the continental championship reflects Botswana’s rising profile as a leading chess nation and its commitment to developing the sport across the region.