World Chess President is in town

President of World Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsam Ilyumzhinov is expected to arrive in Botswana today (Wednesday). During his stay Illyumizhinov is scheduled to have a closed door meeting with the Minister of Basic Education Unity Dow this afternoon.

According to Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) president Mothokomedi Thabano, the President will table a proposal for chess to be included as part of the school curriculum in Botswana. Thabano said as BCF, they have full confidence in this new endeavour. “Should children learn chess at a tender age and while at primary school, they will be able to excel more in their academics,” he said.

“Currently chess is just an extra curriculum activity in Botswana but statistics have shown that it plays a pivotal role in sharpening the mind,” he said. In addition Thabano said the programme will assist in growing the sport locally. “At the same time it will instil creativity, patience and in-depth thinking in players.” Thabano took time to applaud the support BCF receives from the World Chess president.

The Russian and his association have been kind to the BCF having sponsored the local youth team with a lump sum of P121 000 ahead of the upcoming Africa Chess Championships scheduled for Zimbabwe from the 19th -27th August. Meanwhile the national chess team has been undergoing intensive training with Russian Grand Master (GM) Nikolai Chadaev for the past few weeks.

According to the BCF local team has been benefitting from the GM at absolutely no cost. “We are not paying him anything he is just assisting the team to ready for the tournament,” BCF spokesperson Kutlwano Tatolo had said in an earlier interview. Team Botswana will be looking to defend its title at the championships and will be represented by 19 athletes. Among the players, team Botswana has familiar faces including Women Candidate Master (WCM) Naledi Marape, Laone Moshoboro and Candidate Master (CM) Marape Marape.

The team will be accompanied by Fide Arbiter Keenese Katisenge. There will also be International Organiser (IO) Roger Tiroyamodimo, two team managers Mokwaledi Mokwadi and Kefilwe Ramphaleng. Botswana managed to return home with seven new titles and nine medals last year in Zambia.