However, Notha was crowned champion when tie-break was employed to unlock the deadlock. The tournament was initially billed to be a rapid chess event with each player given 25 minutes. But this was changed to a blitz event with each player getting 15 minutes.
With these development, it became clear that there was going to be a massive tie for top positions. As many pointed out afterwards, Notha did not play any of the players that finished joint top with him. It is rare that a tournament winner can avoid the top three players. This suggests that the number of rounds should have been increased by at least three rounds to produce a clear winner. Otherwise the games were interesting and in the final round, Njobvu had to come from behind to beat Pitlagano who had led the event from the start. The win allowed Botswana's top player to finish in a respectable position in his first appearance this year. Notha defeated Jona Chaka to get to the top group, while Boikanyo easily dealt with Otlhomile Maruping to join the winners. At the prize giving ceremony, Notha thanked FSG for putting together the most lucrative prize money in local chess. "I thank the sponsors for putting together such a marvellous event. It is true that all top players look at the prize fund and all of us were impressed with the figures put up. I hope to continue with my good form in upcoming events," said Notha.
In the female category Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Tuduetso Sabure gave an early warning about her intentions to regain the national title by winning the competition by a full point. She scooped 5.5 points out of eight to finish first ahead of national champion Tshepiso Lopang. She received P250 for the win. In the Under-21 competition, Thabo Gumpo of Naledi Secondary School amassed six out eight points to win the P150 top prize. Lame Kolaatamo continued her fine form by winning the primary section after scoring 4.5 points. She got P100. When opening the tournament, the Marketing Manager of FSG Manuel Ruhapo said their association with chess was motivated by a desire to invest in the community. He told the chess community that FSG want Botswana to produce world champions like Vladimir Kramnik and Gary Kasparov. "We believe that in future, we would see grandmasters coming out of this country."
