09 Dec 2021

School of Chess in Francistown will host a chess tournament dubbed First Capital Bank Festive Showdown from December 11 to 13 at Adansonia Hotel.
Organiser, Thapelo Molefhe, said the tournament would be the third of its kind in Francistown and would contribute to the development of chess.

Sponsored by First Capital Bank to the tune of P49 000, the tournament will be divided into five categories being prestige, open, ladies, Under 18 and development and is expected to attract players from across the country and some neighbouring countries.

“International players have always graced our events in great numbers and we look forward to have them again for our third establishment of this magnificent undertaking,” Molefhe stated.

He said there would not be difference from the previous tournaments except a 14 per cent increase in prize money for all categories.

The tournament will see last edition’s winners battle it out with new and notable participants.

John Botlogile (boy) and Peo Sigwele (girl) were last year’s winners in the development section. The U-18 category went to Desire Machinya and Gaolatlhe Motunge who tied for position one, while the ladies section was won by WCM’s Refilwe Gabatshwarwe.

Under the ladies’ category, Gaasite Sebetlela was a hard nut to crack while Monnatsheko Keletshabile won the prestige category.

Molefhe all these would be exempted from paying registration fees for this year’s edition.

He said they got a good deal with First Capital Bank which benefitted both parties.

“We have a telepathic understanding with the bank because they have social responsibility at the core of their business,” he said.

The tournament will see the overall winner of the prestige section going home with P4 200, second position P3 200 and third P2 400.

The ladies section winner will pocket P2 000, second and third position, P1 500 and P1 000 respectively. For the open section, the winner gets P3 000, position two P2 500 and three P2 000 while under 18 section will see the overall winner getting P1 500, second and third prizes P1 200 and P1 200 respectively.

Position one attracts cash prize and a trophy while second and third get cash plus medals in all categories except the development section where the winner gets P300 and a trophy, a medal and a certificate while second and third prize winners go home with medals and certificates.

Francistown School of Chess is an academy that develops chess at grassroots level and is co-owned by Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) vice president and former national instructor Jeremiah Dikgang and Molefhe.

The academy has over time unearthed young talent and a good number of its products have represented Botswana at National Youth Games. Ends