Mosutha eyes more silverware
PALAPYE: Following a rewarding year that yielded two major titles, Chess Master (CM) Thuso Mosutha has set his eyes on more silverware as he prepares to take part in the Botswana Ash (BOTASH) Open Championship this weekend.
Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) expects a tough battle of native chess brains when they converge at Sowa Primary School in the soda ash mining town. The tournament is divided into the Open section and the Women’s section.
BCF secretary-general, Mokwaledi Tingwane said although they were expecting fiery battles, the focus of the tournament is on development.
He noted the sponsor was keen on development, therefore had dedicated 50% of the sponsorship funds to grassroots. “However, our young players would compete in the two sections against tough opponents as a way of exposing them to rigorous competition, but at the end, they would be judged according to their age groups,” he said. The international showpiece would be without foreign players due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.
Open section defending champion, International Master Providence Oatlhotse, who is based in South Africa, would as a result miss the action.
Women’s section champion Grand Master, Tuduetso Sabure is expected to defend her title. However, eyes would be on Mosutha, who has been in a rich vein of form on the chequered board this year.
The diminutive player has been distinct, clinching major titles in Metropolitan National Championship and the Debswana Open. The on-fire chess master also led his league side, Chess Motifs, to a bronze medal finish in the Debswana national chess league that concluded in Gaborone last weekend. The player reckons the tournament would be no walk in the park.
“I had to sweat blood for what I achieved. It is all a result of hard work and sleepless nights of extreme training schedules. I have my eyes on the prize for this tournament, but to be honest, I am expecting the usual tough competition,” the chess master said.
Although he gained massive rise in ratings from 1973 at the beginning of the year to 2042, he aims to elevate his status further in the game.
He acknowledged national team coach, Ivon Makabe, for sharing with him training materials and programmes to better his game.
“One of my targets is to become a regular representative of the national side and the coach is helping a lot. To achieve that, I want to elevate my ratings to over 2100 and attain the International Master title, so for me, there is a lot to lose in Sowa,” he said. The best position Mosutha attained in the BOTASH Open in his past appearances is a top five finish. The tournament is sponsored to the tune of P60,000 by Botswana Ash (Pty) Ltd.