Oatlhotse fails to make Olympiad cut
Calistus Kolantsho | Thursday May 12, 2016 10:44
Oatlhotse did not qualify for the finals of team selection after being knocked out during the second stage. The first stage was held in February, with the second stage following in March. The final selection of the team was held at Oasis Motel in Tlokweng over the weekend.
The selected players will represent Botswana at the Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan in September.
Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) spokesperson, Keenese Katisenge told Mmegi Sport that the selection of the team was based on a criteria that was introduced this year.
The selection considered players’ rating and activity. BCF adopted an open, transparent and objective approach that gave all deserving players based on their strength an opportunity to contest for a position in the national team.
“The selection process was transparent and objective. Everybody knew what to do to be in the team,” she said. The tournament consisted of men and women sections. Both sections had 10 players each and these were the players that had qualified through the stages to make it to the final.
Katisenge said the tournament was spread over a period of four days to simulate the time controls used at the Olympiad.
The team:
Men: Ndawana Mosenya, Keletshabile Monnatsheko, Otsile Mapini, Thuso Mosutha and Candidate Master Moakofi Notha.
Women: Woman International Master (WIM) Boikhutso Mudongo, WIM Onkemetse Francis, Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Thapelo Francis, Khumo Mooketsi and Mabedi Mbo.