More work needed for chess team ahead of Olympiad
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday July 27, 2026 06:00
There were concerns raised following the performance of the players in the Open Section during the BetXplosion National Chess Championship held in Gaborone over the President's Day holiday. The competition had brought together more than 170 players. During the event, International Master (IM) Providence Oatlhotse emerged as the winner in the Open Section to claim the P15,000 cash prize.
On the other hand, Woman International Master (WIM) Onkemetse Francis made a strong comeback to grab the women’s title and pocketed P10,000 for her victory.
Oatlhotse and Francis will lead Team Botswana in Uzbekistan.
However, there is concern that the display of some national team players was below par.
BCF president, Kutlwano Jady Tatolo, told MmegiSport that the outcome of the tournament affects preparations and there is a lot of work needed for the players to be ready for the Olympiad.
She explained that the situation will be discussed during the BCF Annual General Meeting (AGM) which will be held on August 1.
Meanwhile, Tatolo said she was impressed with how the BetXplosion National Chess Championship went.
She said chess leadership was intentional about inviting retired former national team players like FIDE Master Ignatius Njobvu, Candidate Master (CM) Ndawama Mosenya, Kenneth Boikhutswane, CM Tebogo Pitagano, Bojosi Sabure and Ofentse Molale to play and improve the strength of the competition.
Their addition was also meant to show the young players who qualified to be in the national team the level of strength that used to exist in the past.
“We also wanted them to show youngsters the strength that existed in the national team. Even after being inactive for almost 15 years, their strength is not comparable; they need to up their game,” Tatolo said.
“It is difficult to say it in words; all we had to do to prove to them was to invite former players, for them to play and realise it for themselves. It was necessary,” she said.
For her part, Francis told MmegiSport that it has been a long time since she was the national champion, with her last win coming around 2021.
She explained that she had taken a break from competitive chess to concentrate on school and other life commitments.
“The win is a confidence booster. It is always difficult to resume play after the break I had taken. I believe my experience assisted me through most games, and the young players also learnt a lot. I am part of the national team that will be travelling to the Olympiad. “The BetXplosion National Chess Championship was highly competitive; the youth players have improved tremendously, and all national team members were present. Most of our youth players are amongst Africa’s top players in their respective age categories,” Francis said.
She believes that national team players did well, as Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Natalie Banda finished second whilst Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Maya Otimile settled for third position.
Former national champion, WCM Laone Phoebe Moshoboro and WCM Amolemo Atlang Mosweu finished in the top 10.
Francis said this is an indication that the Olympiad team is strong and it will do well at the competition.
Motunge Gaolathe came second in the Open Section, winning himself P11,000, whilst Mokwena Kingsley settled for third position for a P9,000 prize. The prize monies were awarded from positions one to 10 in both categories.