Stage set for Metropolitan chess championship

However, the focus has not all been on the chessboard as the BCF national executive committee faces ouster calls from clubs. Despite the off-the-board upheavals, players remained focused on the game. The players are battling for the title with enticing monetary rewards awaiting them at the finish line. There is also an opportunity to play at the FIDE 2024 Olympiad to be held in Budapest, Hungary in September. The BCF spokesperson, Goitsemodimo Makgatle, told MmegiSport that the first three rounds of the tournament were played on Thursday and the plan is for the competition to end on Sunday.

International Master Providence Oatlhotse is expected to continue where he left off, ruling the Open Section. Oatlhotse has been a national champion six times followed by FIDE Maste Phemelo Kheto with five wins. The defending champions FIDE Master, Gomolemo Rongwane and the Women Candidate Master (WCM) Natalie Banda have joined the competition after returning from national team duty at the African Games in Ghana. Women FIDE Master (WFM) Naledi Marape was leading the Women’s Section at press time, well on her way to becoming a national champion for the very first time. WFM Besa Masaiti who won back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021 will miss the tournament.