Chess masters to grace open tournament

The prize money will be over P30, 000. This will be the first FIDE rated event to be played over 11 rounds with three hour time controls. The event is expected to attract at least four International Masters and at least three FIDE masters. So far South Africans, Zambian and Zimbabweans have confirmed their attendance, most of whom have arrived.

The tournament is expected to be the largest FIDE rated event the BCF has ever hosted in terms of numbers as they have invited the top four students from each school and many foreign players, as this will present them with an opportunity to have international ratings. So far, they have 65 rated players and 21 titled players placing Botswana in the top five federations in Africa in terms of ratings and titles.