20 March 2008
The finals of the Metropolitan Botswana chess championships take place at Gaborone Sun Hotel from tomorrow until Monday. Eight men and eight women will fight it out to decide the open champion and women's champion.
In what promises to be one of the most interesting chess finals in recent years, a new champion must be crowned in the open section. This is because defending champion FIDE Master Phemelo Khetho failed to qualify for the finals. The FM has won three consecutive titles dating back to 2005. In the women section, defending champion Tshepiso Lopang will be hard-pressed to ward off the challenge from the likes of Woman FIDE Master Boikhutso Mudongo, Keitumetse Mokgacha, Keenese Katisenge and Ontiretse Sabure. It is not clear whether Woman Grandmaster Tuduetso Sabure will play in the finals as she missed the qualifiers. Many feel the Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) has to show strong character by not giving her a place in the finals. The open section features eight men who love positional play and this is likely to produce better chess. But advocates of tactics are likely to be disappointed as there will be no tricks and traps. These are the men who will fight it out during the holidays in the open section.
* Ignatius Njobvu
The three-time Botswana champion has of late not produced the magic that made him the most-feared player in the local circuit. He won his maiden championship when he was 16 in 1996. He is lucky to have qualified for the finals. He should come with guns blazing to remind all those who have written him off that he deserves his high world rating of 2240, which makes him the country's number one player.
* John Hutcheson
Hutcheson has not seen much chess in the past five years and might suffer from rustiness. However, he remains one of the strongest players in these finals and could even win it. He showed that he has what it takes by defeating Providence Oatlhotse with black in the semi finals. If he manages his time well, he will surely teach his young rivals a thing or two.
* Providence Oatlhotse
Considered by many a big favourite to lift the crown. But he will have to keep a level head and ignore the pressure that comes with being everyone's pre-tournament favourite. He has already won two titles this year, both played at fast time controls that is his forte. His rivals have pointed out that the finals will be played at a much slower rate of five hours per session, which gives the others a better chance to win against him. Having played second fiddle to Khetho in the past two years, Oatlhotse is determined to make amends by winning now that his nemesis is out.
* Barileng Gaealafshwe
He has already won the fast time control JK Sitale Memorial. He is a player who has shown potential but has often been let down by his nerves. These finals present him with an opportunity to put behind the disappointment of previous years. His other undoing is that he copes badly with positions he sees for the first time, a weapon his opponents have used many times to outwit him.
* Kenneth Boikhutswane
Considered by many as a true chess ambassador. Boikhutswane is playing what will probably be his last finals due to professional demands. His younger rivals have dismissed him, saying his glory days are gone. Only Jona Chaka has tried to point out that in the past four events, the dread-locked player has lost only three games of the 30 he played, and will be one of the favourites. His play has been sharpened considerably in the past three years, which will complicate the task of his younger opponents.
* Moakofi Notha
He is never short of confidence. He has already stated to anyone willing to listen that he will walk away with the championship. He has even gone as far as saying he has prepared his championship winning speech! Though he is a good player, his proclamations have been dismissed as nothing but a cheap stunt. His rivals have challenged him to put money where his mouth is. He might as well win the title because all of the finalists have tasted defeat from before.
* Edwin Kabelo
He qualified for the finals by edging out the formidable duo of Chaka and Khetho when no one gave him no chance. Already many experts have labelled him the 'punching bag' of the tournament. But they might regret this statement. His track record in the past three events is impressive; joint third at Botswana Open, joint first in the championships first round and finishing top of his group in the semi-finals. Anyone who doubts his ability to win the crown does so at his own peril.
* Cinky Boikanyo
Like Kabelo, Boikanyo surprised everyone by making it through at the expense of Chaka and Khetho. On his day, he can beat anyone. His main undoing is inconsistency. He can play one game like a seasoned chessman and mess up with a complete howler in another. Should he keep a level head throughout, he can finish top of the championship.
He has declared that he will be going for broke in the finals, though rivals have taunted him by saying they doubt if he will finish the competition. Two years ago he disappeared after a string of losses, citing illness, though that story has never really convinced anyone.
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