MOCHUDI: The Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) organised an Age Category Re Ba Bona Ha (RBBH) Youth Chess Championship at Seingwaeng Primary School in Mochudi over the weekend. The tournament attracted 56 youth players from different clubs and academies in the southern region. The two-day tournament started on Saturday with rounds 1-5 played throughout the day and the final two rounds of the tournament played on Sunday. Players squared off in different categories from Under-10 to under-18. The players used the tournament to gain ranking points towards junior national team selections for 2023. The BCF also used the tournament to introduce their RBBH programme in Mochudi.
The new centre will be based at Seingwaeng Primary School. The BNSC Acting Sport Development Manager- Technical Frederick Kebadiretse handed chess equipment, including chess boards and clocks to the centre. He encouraged the players to embrace the presence of the centre in Mochudi and use it to learn the sport and become future Chess Champions. He said the Chess RBBH programme has done very well having produced three (3) Sportswoman of the Year winners at the National Sports Awards, being Women Fide Master Besa Masaiti, Refilwe Gabatshwane and Naledi Marape.
For his part BCF Development Coordinator Bling Mbaiwa encouraged the young players to keep working hard to improve their game and gain points so that they can represent the country. He said Chess can help them to focus on their studies and do well academically as it is a sport that stimulates the mind. BCF Secretary General Mokwaledi Tingwane, Treasurer Masego Motlotle as well as Seingwaeng Primary School Deputy School Head Ms. Dliwayo also attended the tournament. The winners went home with trophies and medals.