Africa-Press – Botswana. After encountering tough battles local chess whiz kids Thuto Mpene and Women FIDE Master (WFM) Natalie Banda remained the only duo that booked themselves to make Team Botswana at the 2025 Africa Junior Chess Championship to be held in the Cape Verde.
Chess enthusiasts converged at University of Botswana recently to witness a melee of chess geniuses in the 2025 Botswana Junior Championships hosted by the Botswana Chess Federation BCF).
The FIDE rated under 20s’ only affair served as a gateway to book three seats in the open category and three in the ladies’ category.
However, spokesperson for BCF Goitsemodimo Makgatle said due to budgetary constraints the local federation opted to only send the above duo who were crowned champions to represent the country in September.
Both Thuto and Natalie walked away with trophies, gold medals and price monies after collecting 6.5 points each out of seven rounds played in the Open Section and Ladies’ section respectively.
Thuto also got P1 000 while Natalie went home with P700.
In the Open Section, Raymond Maretlwaneng took a silver medal and won himself P750 while Moses Mananga settled for a bronze medal and bagged P500.
In the ladies’ section Women Candidate Master (WCM) Amolemo settled for a silver medal and she also pocketed home P500 while WCM Laone Moshoboro, who is based in the USA as an elite scholar for BCF landed on spot number three and got P300.
Makgatle expressed gratitude as she narrated that the championship were a success, adding that they had convened the country’s most promising young talents.
“The event showcased high levels of competitiveness, discipline and sportsmanship. We saw some rising stars especially in the open section hence reaffirming the future of chess in the country,” said Makgatle.
The tournament, Makgatle said ended on a high note with great enthusiasms.
The BCF Technical and Ratings Director Thompson Modisane said this year’s championship were styled by the exemption National Champions and high titled players from paying registration fees to serve as a token of encouragement for the veterans and the upcoming young chess players.
He encouraged the contestants to always take the games with great seriousness assuring them that they were the rising stars, the future grandmasters in the making.
Modisane told the contestants that it was the moment to shine, to challenge their limits and to honour the game with every calculated move, every sacrifice and every bold sacrifice and every quiet triumph.
“Whether you are chasing checkmate or learning from defeat, know that each game you play is a step forward in your journey, always play with focus. Compete with integrity and above all enjoy the game,” said Modisane.
He said the BCF stood on the edge of that thrilling junior championship hence they saluted not just a competition but a celebration of strategy, discipline and the enduring love for the royal game.
To the chess fanatics, he said their passion and support fuelled the fire that kept the games alive across generations.
He said their enthusiasm was the heartbeat of every move made on the board.
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