Notha, Tatolo set pace in chess qualifiers
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday March 8, 2016 11:24
Notha qualified top of the Open section with eight points while Tatolo was the winner in the Women’s section with six points. The first qualifiers of the competition ended on Sunday at Oasis Motel in Tlokweng. The tournament attracted 205 players.
A total of 23 from the Open section and 17 from the Women’s section have made it to the second stage of the tournament, which are the second qualifiers where they would be joined by the defending champions, Providence Oatlhotse (Open) and Tuduetso Sabure (Women).
The Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) public relations officer, Keenese Katisenge said the second qualifiers would be held in the coming weekend with the finals scheduled for the Easter holidays. Metropolitan Botswana sponsors the tournament for P120,000 and the first prizes are P10,000 in the Open section and P8,000 in the Women’s section.
The first qualifiers had to be postponed due to technical glitches that were experienced last month. Katisenge had told Mmegi Sport that they encountered technical problems on the first day of the tournament. She said the efforts to rectify the problem took longer than expected and an unanimous decision to postpone the event was taken after consultation with the participants.
She said the problems they had encountered were dealt with hence the weekend tournament went ahead without any challenges.
Some of the top names that have progressed to the second round include: WFM Thapelo Francis, WFM Boikhutso Mudongo. WCM Naledi Marape, WIM Tshepiso Lopang, WIM Onkemetse Francis, Boitumelo Radikoro, Besa Masaiti, Nchidzi Motshusi and Kgomotso Ndachipiwa while in the Open section among others there is Barileng Gaealafshwe, Msume Banda Francis, Losika Mogale, Thuto Moje, Baone Kealeboga, Kuda Bayani, Gomolemo Rongwane, Otsile Mapini and Motsumi Matlhogonolo.