John Moyo of Poisonous Snakes is the champion of the FSG Chess Tournament.
The Zimbabwean-born player beat a side full of local chess brains, including the likes of Fide Master (FM) Phemelo Khetho, Candidate Master (CM) Barileng Gaealafshwe and Providence Oatlhotse, among others, to clinch the championship.
Moyo amassed a total of 7.5 points off a possible nine to beat off a strong challenge from FM Khetho who ended the tournament as a runner up with 7 points.
Coming third behind the duo was a quartet of Moakofhi Notha, CM Gaealafshwe, Oatlhotse and Kealeboga Baone.
Moyo walked away P3000 richer for his efforts.
In the women’s category, one of the country’s most promising youngsters, Women Candidate Master (WCM) Thapelo Francis, walked away the champion after collecting 8 points, beating off a stiff challenge from Boikhutso Mudongo and Kgalalelo Botlhole. Both Mudongo and Botlhole ended up as runners up after each of them amassed 7.5 points. The tournament, a one day chess affair which is on its 6th year and is also known as the JSK Sitale memorial has been sponsored by the Funeral Services Group (FSG) to the tune of P19┬á000, marking a increase from last year’s sponsorship of P17┬á000.
Speaking to Telegraph Sport, tournament Organiser, Tshepo Sitale, hailed the tournament as a success and said he is expecting more in the next edition.
Sitale, who is also the president of the Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) says over the years the tournament has grown tremendously, adding that he expects it to be even bigger next year.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Chess Championships will come to a climax this coming Easter holidays, and if the weekend clashes in the FSG Chess tournament are anything to go by, exciting battles should be expected during the tournament.
Among players expected to take part in the Metropolitan Chess finals are defending champion, CM Gaealafshwe, FM Khetho, Notha and Oatlhotse who all were in the top three in the weekend’s tightly contested FSG chess tournament.
In the women’s category, all eyes will be on the newly crowned FSG Chess tournament champion, WCM Thapelo Francis, as well as Mudongo and Keitumetse Mokgacha. The Metropolitan Chess championship is expected to start this coming Thursday night at the President Hotel and will end on the 25th.
The tournament is sponsored by Metropolitan Botswana to the tune of P74 000.
