Kenneth Boikhutswane
19 October 2006
One of Botswana's less known chess players, Mohammed Israel Makwati, crushed all opponents to win the tough Gauteng North Open with the maximum six points. The three-day tournament in Waterglen shopping mall started on Friday and attracted a field of 109 players from South Africa and neighbouring countries. Makwati received R1,000 for his remarkable achievement. He becomes the second Botswana player after Woman Grand Master (WGM) Tuduetso Sabure to win a chess tourney in South Africa.
Although Makwati may not be prominent in the local chess scene, his play in the past two years has shown remarkable signs of improvement.
He has played in the finals of Botswana championships and featured in the 12-man playoffs for this year's Olympiad. Although he was unsuccessful in his quest to make the Botswana team, there were indications that it is just a matter of time before he makes the team.
Speaking to Mmegi Sport from his Pretoria base, Makwati said the recent Botswana Open helped him a lot to prepare for the Gauteng North Open. The 90 minutes allocated to each player for the whole event was slightly less than the two hours used at Botswana Open and he coped easily. "I'm very happy to have won the tourney.
The Botswana Open really helped me a lot as there we played two hours, so I could absorb pressure easily. I'm now busy preparing for my exams and after that, I have to work hard because I desire to play in the national team soon," said the excited Makwati. The upcoming All Africa Games in Algeria next year will provide the Serowe-born player with a chance to make the Botswana team. On the local scene, Makwati plays for Kings Chess Club whose president Edwin Kabelo said he is proud of the player's achievement in South Africa. "This is not just a win for him as an individual but for the whole country.
"It will inspire many of our players to have the confidence that they can make it outside Botswana," said Kabelo.
National team player Barileng Gaealafshwe told Mmegi Sport that Makwati's win is very impressive looking at the field he outclassed. "I have always admired his love for the game and his tremendous work rate.
He is one of the players who will make it into national team in the not too distant future. I wish him all the best."
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