Moshoboro vows to defend Chess Championship title
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday July 7, 2026 10:18
The tournament, which will be played in a format of nine rounds with time control of 75 minutes per player, has received sponsorship worth P160, 000 from BetXplosion. Moshoboro said she was worried that the national chess championships would not be held this year because they are normally held during Easter holidays and when Easter passed, she thought nothing would happen.
She said it is now time for her to start brushing up with her coach to practice her puzzles as she prepares to defend her title.
“I have felt the impact of this competition. BetXplosion's commitment to supporting these championships goes far beyond financial assistance, you have invested in dreams, talent and future of every player who will sit across the chess board,” Moshoboro said during the BetXplosion sponsorship launch over the weekend.
The event was held at Yarona Country Lodge in Mogoditshane,
“When that inexperienced player enters the room, sits down for hours and still loses their game, that is a learning curve. That is the beginning of someone’s success story and occurrence of the tournament is behind it,” she added.
According to Moshoboro, chess teaches patience, discipline, critical thinking and resilience, adding that BetXplosion's support does not only assist in developing strong players but also future leaders.
Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) president, Kutlwano Jady Tatolo said it has been a long journey, sleepless nights and arguments amongst the National Executive Committee (NEC) members as they wondered whether they would deliver the 2026 national championships.
She noted that the BetXplosion National Chess Championship is more than a tournament, but a partnership to assist BCF to deliver its strategy.
“As leaders, one of our biggest virtues that one can have is to be able to accept help and ask for help when you need it. We extended our plight for help to BetXplosion and they answered out call. “We are willing to get various types of support. The partnership with BetXplosion that is going to set a foundation that BCF is going to be enduring. The first 12 months of any committee is to determine if it is going to be a success or not. It also shows commitment and leadership capability. We believed that we can deliver on your expectations when you voted us into office,” she said.
BetXplosion CEO, Peter Kgomotso told the launch thT parents of young chess players go through many challenges, and today those players are representing the country at international competitions.
“We have had conversation with BCF executive committee, to find out exactly where they are going and see if BetXplosion can come in and give them a boost, so that they get there quicker because the journey that never concludes is a painful one,” he said.
“We want to allay some of your fears and say let us carry some of the burden that you have been carrying for all these years. And hopefully let everyone carry little weight on their backs, hopefully that is when people will start to shine.”
Kgomotso said BetXplosion is taking the lead in showing what businesses can do for the community that they live in, invest in the people that make their products shine and invest in young lives.
He encouraged players to make a living out of chess like other sport codes such as athletics.
For his part, BCF tournament and ratings director, Thompson Modisane noted that the event will be different from other national championships because it will be played once off, which is something new.
He said the championship will attract retired players such as Ofentse Molale, FIDE Master (FM) Ignatius Njobvu, Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Tuduetso Sabure amongst others.
“This is the highest paying tournament and the winner in Open Section receives P15, 000, Women Section winner gets P10, 000 and we will reward from position one to 10. Registration is open,” Modisane said.