Chess veterans return in Masters' event

Dragon Kefiilwe managed to walk away with the 2015 Turbo Refrigeration Masters Open Chess Championship over the weekend.

The tournament that pitted over 35 players against each other was held at the Emerald Hotel in Tlokweng where Kefiilwe walked away with a P3000 cash prize for his efforts. Second place was scooped by Baone Kealeboga who won P2000 while Dr Francis Banda followed in position three taking home P1000. The tournament is an initiative by the Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) while Turbo Refrigeration offered the financial platform to allow the elderly players  to continue enjoying the game.

Speaking on the sidelines of the tournament, BCF president Tshenolo Maruatona said older players tended to quit the game as time goes on, yet they could still offer a lot. . “We needed to resuscitate older players and have them playing the game. We still need them as mentors to younger players,” Maruatona told Sun Sports. After the tournament, Maruatona said they expected each of the players to adopt a young chess player and act as their mentor.

The tournament has been running for over seven years. Thus far, a number of schools in and around Gaborone including Metsimotlhabe Primary School are benefiting from the program as some of the Masters’ players are coaching them. The last Masters tournament hosted in 2014 was won by Baone Kealeboga of Bonyonyo Chess Club and Woman International Master Boikhutso Mudongo.

Moreover, the tournament   has encompassed social responsibility as part of the event. Last year’s winner WIM Modongo made a commitment of giving back to the community by hosting a girl’s only chess tournament in 2015 as part of her crown. The 2015 tournament was sponsored to the tune of P17 000