I was simply off form - FM Phemelo Khetho

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Monday October 11, 2010 00:00

 

This time around hopes were high that he would win himself a FIDE title at the Khanty-Mansysk Olympiad, Siberia, Russia. However, it was not to be. FIDDE Master (FM) Khetho amassed only 1.5 points from a possible nine.  He attributes his poor showing to lack of form and fatigue.

Playing Board 1, Khetho was pitted against a grand master from Vietnam, Le, Quang Liem (2694 ) in the fist round. Whatever, he seemed to have lacked composure, as he lost two pawns and gave away a queen for a knight within the first 20 moves.

Round 2 versus Cyprus ( No excuse for points dropped)Here Khetho faced a lowly rated Antoniou Antonis (2172) of Cyprus and was expected to show his class. Despite a bright opening and middle game, things got out of hand in the end game.

Round 3 vs. Jordan (two pawn advantage slip away)Khetho played his third game against highly rated IM Khader Sami (2449) of Jordan and appeared to be cruising at the end game with two pawns and a bishop advantage the 94th move.  In fact in move 96, Khetho was invited to further capture a knight with one of the pawns but declined. However he allowed the opponent to pin one of the pawns for a draw!

Round 4 vs. Namibia (Khetho finds rhythm at last)Khetho and his lowly ranked Namibian opponent Eichab, Charles Sidney (2046), played some entertaining stuff. Though his opponent disturbed the rhythm with early queens exchange (move 14), Khetho pressed on, winning in 46 moves.

Round 5 vs. Russia (Russian queen side attack prevails)Grand Master, Sjugirov Sanan (2627) started with a normal gambit but pulled a trick; opting to attack the queen side of Khetho's game and forcing him to resign in 28 moves.

Round 6 vs. Honduras (Botswana star crushed in 19 moves)Khetho was expected to match his FM opponent, Colindres, Daniel (2233) of Honduras, but the Honduras player crushed Khetho within 19 moves.

Round 8 vs. Zambia (another off-form display))Another disappointing display from the Botswana player against a familiar opponent, Stanley Chumfwa (2315). He crumbled under Chumfuwa's counter-attack that unfolded from move 30 - 39.

Round 9 vs. Guatemala (Rook blunder costs Khetho)Playing against better rated International Master Juarez, Flores Carlos (2366), Khetho appeared to be going for the jugular with some excellent chess but somehow lost a rook, which he accidentally parked right on the mouth of his opponent's bishop in move 30!

Round 10 vs Japan (Khetho misses free rook!)Against Japan's FM Kojima, Shinya (2334), everything looked normal until Khetho's opponent made a blunder in move 16, leaving a rook exposed to a queen attack. Khetho hesitated, only to react late and pay dearly.