Oatlhotse for Metropolitan champs finals

GABORONE - Providence Oatlhotse has proved that he is still a force to be reckoned as he easily qualified for the finals of the Metropolitan Chess Champions billed for April 10 - 4 in Gaborone.
Oatlhotse, who was in group one, started the first round on a low note as he committed elementary mistakes that led him to settle for a draw.
He only has himself to blame, as he could not rap up the game when he was only left with a bishop to beat.
However, he made a remarkable come back in his second round game against Polite Salani and brushed him aside indicating much-improved tactics and won his pawn in the early stages.
Oatlhotse went on to dominate group one with an easy sailing against Cinky Boikanyo in round three.
The defending champion continued with his electrifying form in round four to claim a clean sweep win, as he only made 19 moves to become victorious in what was more like a one sided affair.
The fourth round win was an automatic qualification to the finals as there was no one in the group who could master more points than him.
Oatlhotse who is ranked third in the country and plays in board one in the national team seems to be focused on successfully defending his title as this could book him a ticket for the world cup qualifying games in Libya.
Group two was the group of death as it consisted of Phemelo Khetho, who returned from the Olympiad after a sterling showing, Zimbabwean chess master, Jona Chaka, upcoming talented Moakofhi Notha who scored the highest points tally 6/7 in the qualifying games which were held at the Naledi Secondary School two weeks ago as well as youngsters Biki Kalake, Itlhakaneleng Mosepele and Stanley Sebowe.
Khetho led group two from the first encounter as he registered his first win against the inexperienced Biki Kalake and went on to settle for a draw with chess master, Chaka as well as the much improved Notha in round three.
For Olympiad Kheto, it was almost a walk in the park in round four, as he easily accounted for Sebowe in a one-sided match. Another Zimbabwean chess international master, Kudzanai Mamombe was unstoppable in group four as he went on to secure a place in the finals by winning two of his opening matches.
Mamombe is arguably the best achiever in the tournament as he has won the African Junior championship and three open tournaments in South Africa and is also a six time Olympiad participant.
In group four, Tebogo Pitlagano and Barileng Gaealafshwe qualified for the finals and there were no major upsets in the ladies sections, as all the hot favorites in the likes of Boikhutso Modungo, Tshepiso Lopang, Ontiretse Saburu and Keitumetse Mokgache, qualified for the finals. BOPA