Airfficiency tourney kicks off chess calendar

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday January 29, 2016 14:43

BCF spokesperson, Neoyame Katisenge said players from other countries have registered to compete in the annual event. She said some of the players who have put up their names for the competition include Spencer Masango (Zimbabwe), Clive Mphambela (Zimbabwe) Kela Kaulela (Zambia) and Francis Banda (Malawi).  She said the tournament is expected to set the tempo for the remainder of the year. Katisenge said the 2015 tournament had brought together 117 chess players of different strengths and titles from Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  Registration for this year’s tournament is ongoing and ends tomorrow.

The tournament would be played in three sections; the open section, which is open to all players regardless of gender, titles or rating with other two sections for women and the youth. The format is a seven-round Swiss individual pairing system with 65 minutes time allocation per player without increment. The first prize for the Open section is P3,000, women’s section prize is P2,000 while the youth section winner will walk away with chess equipment.

“BCF continues to rate the event with the World Chess Federation (FIDE) on an annual basis in order to afford participants an opportunity to gain FIDE ratings,” she said.

FIDE Master (FM), Thato Olebile is the defending champion in the Open section from Zambian Musatwe Simutowe last year.  The local player picked a draw against Simutowe last year to make sure that the championship remained home. The defending champion in the women section is 11-year-old Woman Candidate Master, Modi Sonia of South Africa. She finished the tournament tied on 5.5/7 points with Woman Grand Master Tuduetso Sabure and International Master Tshepiso Olopeng. Sabure finished second with Olopeng in third position.

Sensational young chess star, CM Naledi Marape was crowned the best girl performer from primary schools in the youth section while Gideon Masaiti was best boy performer. Besa Masaiti won the girls’ section junior secondary schools championship title and the boys’ champion was Keatlaretse Keorapetse. Abhiram Sasitharam was crowned best performer in the senior schools category.