Chess team off to Batumi for Olympiad
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday September 21, 2018 13:15
One of the squad members, FIDE Master Phemelo Khetho said the team is the strongest ever that BCF has ever sent to Olympiad in terms of ratings.
“We had the longest camp, which was six weeks and we had two Grandmasters (GM). We spent six hours in training for the last five weeks. The training was massive. If you train together as a team, you gel. One hand does not clap but two hands produce a sound,” he said. Khetho said the team is targeting category medals, titles and rankings.
Meanwhile, BCF president, Mothokomedi Thabano told Mmegi Sport that this Olympiad is expected to rank amongst the most exciting in history. He said an added dimension is the election of a new World Chess Federation (FIDE) president during the FIDE congress that would run alongside the Olympiad.
“It is expected that there would be massive battle between Arkady Dvorkovich and the current FIDE acting president, Georgious Makropoulos,” Thabano said.
Botswana’s Tshepo Sitale will compete against Lewis Ncube for the Africa Chess Confederation presidency. Local WIM Tshepiso Lopang is in Ncube lobby team and is vying for the vice president’s position.
Players Profiles
Name: IM Providence Oatlhotse
Date of birth: December 19, 1985
Appearance: 8
Rating: 2212
Strength: Does not fear taking risks.
Name: FM Phemelo Khetho
Date of birth: November 26, 1983
Appearance: 9
Rating: 2130
Strength: Master strategist
Name: CM Barileng Gaealafshwe
Date of birth: January 3, 1982
Appearance: 7
Rating: 2116
Strength: Patience and experience
Name: CM Thabo Gumpo
Date of birth: October 18, 1990
Appearance: 4
Rating: 2018
Strength: Has energy for long games.
Name: CM Moakofi Notha
Date of birth: October 25, 1984
Appearance: 3
Rating: 2033
Strength: Hard worker and studies the game
Name: WIM Onkemetse Francis
Date of birth: February 5, 1992
Appearance: 5
Rating: 1823
Strength: Experience
Name: WIM Kgalalelo Botlhole
Date of birth: June 18, 1992
Appearance: 4
Rating: 1705
Strength: Master calculator
Name: WFM Besa Masaiti
Date of birth: July 02, 2002
Appearance: debut
Rating: 1500
Strength: Hunger to learn
Name: Ndachipiwa Kgomotso
Date of birth: April 25, 1994
Appearance: debut
Rating: 1590
Strength: Never repeats the same mistake twice.
Name Boitumelo Radikoro
Date of birth: March 15, 1993
Appearance: debut
Rating: 1540
Strength: Patience and position play
Coaches: GM Esam Elgindy (men) and GM Nikolay Chadaev.