03 Dec 2024

The 2024 BOTASH Open Chess Championships ended on Sunday after three days of chess players ingeniously creating moves on the chess boards to get the lucky number.

The games, which were hosted in Sowa Town were made possible by Botswana Ash who sponsored the championships with P87 000.

This all-gender contest comprised of a quintet of categories: Under-12, 14, 16, 18 and the senior the category.

As usual, the women’s category registered the least number of participants contending compared to their male counterparts.

Despite a large number of new faces, the number of athletes made a slight difference compared to the previous year.

The Botswana Chess Federation’s public relations director, Goitsemodimo Makgatle, said it showed that the number of participants for open section was 41 and 11 ladies in 2023 while this year there were 42 participants and 10 ladies.

In the senior category, Masango Spencer won trophy, a gold medal and P5 500 in the open section after collecting six points out of a possible seven points.

Makgatle said the Zimbabwean international, Spencer, won the 2018 Championship and in 2022 and 2023 he managed to secure silver medals consecutively.

On the second spot, Motunge Gaolathe pocketed P2 833 and a silver medal while on the third spot came Gomolemo Rongwane who got a bronze medal and P2 833.

In the national women’s championship, Natalie Banda, won the championship with 6.5 points out of possible seven and bagged P3 5000 a trophy as well a gold medal.

Amolemo Mosweu came second to get a silver medal and pocket P2 500 after securing six points out of seven.

The third spot was grasped by Kaone Motlhako with five points out of seven and she left the podium with a bronze medal and P1 500.

The P1000 for the fourth position was awarded Dolly Thapelo while Judith Mothokatse walked away with P750..

For the lower categories, under 18 downwards first positions got P200 and the second positions got P150 whereas P50 went to the third positioners. Ends