Botswana improves despite failure to win chess medals

Though the Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) had set a target of winning at least a medal in the open and women sections, the country’s chess players failed to deliver. The men’s team slipped out of the medal category in round 10 when they lost 1.5-2.5 to Portugal. The team finished fifth in category D behind Sri-Lanka, Lebanon, Cyprus and Jamaica. BCF spokesperson, Keenese Katisenge said despite the loss, the men’s team moved 21 slots in world rankings from 111 to 90. In Africa the team is ranked fourth.

Thato Olebile was awarded a FIDE Master title by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) after the Olympiad. Olebile becomes the third FIDE Master in the country after Phemelo Khetho and Ignatius Njobvu.