The next and final league games in the highly competitive Debswana Chess League are scheduled for the 24-25 September, 2022 in Gaborone. This follows the second leg of the League games which were played late last month in Orapa. So far Mochudi Chess Club are currently leading the league standings, having tied to 16 points with Ramotswa.
Of the 16 teams in the league, only 11 turned up for the last round in Orapa. However, BCF public relations officer Dave Motshabi said they are expecting all the 16 teams to compete in the final round. "The current league is carried over from last year (2021) due to the COVID 19 pandemic", he said.
According to the BCF, each team partaking in the league is expected to field eight (8) players as follows: Board 1 to 4 open to all, Board 5 is reserved for a female player, Board 6 is reserved for the under 21, and Board 7 is reserved for under 16 female players while Board 8 is reserved for under 16 male player. Participation in the league is open to all affiliated clubs.
Motshabi further explained that the Enpassent Chess Club were champions in the last edition in 2020 while other podium finishes saw Young Grand Masters in second position and Chess Motifs in third.
Meanwhile Motshabi said: " It is worth mentioning that Enpassent Chess Club are the three times reigning champions having won all the league games which came as part of the four year Debswana sponsorship. The sponsorship elapsed last year and regrettably the team was not able to enroll in this year's league games."
Through a previous statement, the BCF explained that this entailed a three part sponsorship totalling BWP 277, 800.00, which means the league has therefore been apportioned BWP127, 800.00 to be split between prizes and administration. A grand prize of BWP16, 000.00 is at stake for the main Classification, Public prize while other podium positions will attract a BWP13, 000.00 and BWP10, 500.00 respectively.
The Debswana Chess League games are coordinated by the League Committee which comprises of the following members: Dr Marape Marape, Chairperson, Thapelo Molefe, Vice Chairperson, Charles Masaiti, Pairings Director, Dr Onkemetse Francis-Gumpo, Secretary, Dr Moses Khutsafalo and Vice President-Technical (ex officio member)
The current log standing is as follows:
1 MOCHUDI CHESS CLUB 16 2 RAMOTSWA CHESS CLUB 16 3 CHESS MOTIFS CHESS CLUB 14 4 BRILLIANT MINDS CHESS CLUB 13 5 YOUNG GRANDMASTERS 13 6 BLACK BISHOPS CHESS CLUB 13 7 FRANCISTOWN CHESS CLUB 11 8 ROCK & ROLL CHESS MASTERS CLUB 11 9 TAL BUDAPEST CHESS CLUB 9 10 ORAPA CHESS CLUB 7 11 BLOCK 8 CHESS CLUB 7 12 KINGS CHESS CLUB 4 13 SICIL CHESS CLUB 4 14 ICE QUEEN CHESS CLUB 2 15 BDF CHESS CLUB 0 16 DELTA PAWNS CHESS CLUB 0
Of the 16 teams in the league, only 11 turned up for the last round in Orapa. However, BCF public relations officer Dave Motshabi said they are expecting all the 16 teams to compete in the final round. "The current league is carried over from last year (2021) due to the COVID 19 pandemic", he said.
According to the BCF, each team partaking in the league is expected to field eight (8) players as follows: Board 1 to 4 open to all, Board 5 is reserved for a female player, Board 6 is reserved for the under 21, and Board 7 is reserved for under 16 female players while Board 8 is reserved for under 16 male player. Participation in the league is open to all affiliated clubs.
Motshabi further explained that the Enpassent Chess Club were champions in the last edition in 2020 while other podium finishes saw Young Grand Masters in second position and Chess Motifs in third.
Meanwhile Motshabi said: " It is worth mentioning that Enpassent Chess Club are the three times reigning champions having won all the league games which came as part of the four year Debswana sponsorship. The sponsorship elapsed last year and regrettably the team was not able to enroll in this year's league games."
Through a previous statement, the BCF explained that this entailed a three part sponsorship totalling BWP 277, 800.00, which means the league has therefore been apportioned BWP127, 800.00 to be split between prizes and administration. A grand prize of BWP16, 000.00 is at stake for the main Classification, Public prize while other podium positions will attract a BWP13, 000.00 and BWP10, 500.00 respectively.
The Debswana Chess League games are coordinated by the League Committee which comprises of the following members: Dr Marape Marape, Chairperson, Thapelo Molefe, Vice Chairperson, Charles Masaiti, Pairings Director, Dr Onkemetse Francis-Gumpo, Secretary, Dr Moses Khutsafalo and Vice President-Technical (ex officio member)
The current log standing is as follows:
1 MOCHUDI CHESS CLUB 16 2 RAMOTSWA CHESS CLUB 16 3 CHESS MOTIFS CHESS CLUB 14 4 BRILLIANT MINDS CHESS CLUB 13 5 YOUNG GRANDMASTERS 13 6 BLACK BISHOPS CHESS CLUB 13 7 FRANCISTOWN CHESS CLUB 11 8 ROCK & ROLL CHESS MASTERS CLUB 11 9 TAL BUDAPEST CHESS CLUB 9 10 ORAPA CHESS CLUB 7 11 BLOCK 8 CHESS CLUB 7 12 KINGS CHESS CLUB 4 13 SICIL CHESS CLUB 4 14 ICE QUEEN CHESS CLUB 2 15 BDF CHESS CLUB 0 16 DELTA PAWNS CHESS CLUB 0
