Botswana concludes 2026 National Team Selection Finals in multi-phase championship
The Botswana Chess Federation has successfully concluded its 2026 National Team Selection Finals, culminating a championship defined by competitive integrity, and alignment with the governance standards of the African Chess Confederation and FIDE. Hosted at Yarona Country Lodge, the tournament brought together Botswana’s strongest players in both the Open and Women’s Sections for a demanding and meticulously organised selection process. A rigorous multi-phase qualification battle The championship featured a round-robin format, ensuring that each contender faced every other opponent in their respective section. Beyond its format, the tournament unfolded in several phases, each increasing in intensity. Sustaining performance across multiple phases required endurance, discipline, and elite-level focus. Open Section: Experience reaffirmed, youth rising In the Open Section, Mothudi Arnold Mogotsi emerged as tournament winner after a composed and strategically mature campaign. His performance marks a significant return to the pinnacle of Botswana chess. Joining him are Sebetlela Gaasite, CM Thuto Mpene, and CM Thuso Mosutha, each of whom demonstrated consistency and fighting spirit throughout the contest. The qualification of Gaasite and Mpene, in particular, reflects the continued success of Botswana’s youth development structures and signals a strong generational transition in national chess. The team is further strengthened by the automatic inclusion of the country’s highest-rated player, IM Providence Oatlhotse, whose international experience adds depth and leadership to the squad. Women’s Section: Stability and strategic growth In the Women’s Section, WIM Onkemetse Mendu Francis once again showcased her class and consistency, securing qualification through a strong performance. She will be joined by WCM Maya Otimile, WCM Amolemo Atlang Mosweu, and WCM Laone Phoebe Moshoboro, an ambitious trio whose qualification reflects the steady growth of women’s chess in Botswana. Their achievement marks a significant milestone not only in their individual careers, but also in the broader strengthening of the women’s competitive structure nationally. Completing the team is WFM Natalie Banda, the country’s highest-rated female player, whose presence ensures experience and rating strength across the boards. “The successful completion of the 2026 National Team Selection Championship signifies far more than the announcement of a national squad. It reflects the continued institutional growth of the Botswana Chess Federation, the strength of our transparent and merit-driven qualification framework, and the effectiveness of a clearly defined pathway from youth development to elite national representation. By integrating experienced masters with an ambitious new generation of talent, we are demonstrating both continuity and strategic foresight a model aligned with the development vision of the African Chess Confederation and FIDE. As we prepare for continental and global engagements, Botswana enters the 2026 cycle united, structurally stronger, and firmly focused on delivering competitive excellence on the international stage,” said Kutlwano “Jady” Tatolo President of Botswana Chess Federation Preparing for global and continental engagement The selected teams will represent Botswana at the prestigious Chess Olympiad 2026, to be staged in Uzbekistan. The Olympiad remains the foremost global team chess event, offering nations an opportunity to benchmark progress against the world’s elite while gaining invaluable competitive exposure. In addition, Botswana will host the African Individual Chess Championship 2026 in June. Hosting this flagship continental event underscores Botswana’s growing organisational capacity and its expanding role within African chess structures.
FIDE distributes €37,000 among chess veterans
After carefully reviewing the numerous applications received, the special panel appointed by the FIDE Council has selected seventeen chess players, coaches, and organizers to benefit from FIDE’s 2026 support program for chess veterans: GM Leonid Yudasin (ISR)GM Florin Gheorghiu (ROU) WGM Irina Levitina (USA)IA Boris Postovsky (USA)GM Yehuda Gruenfeld (ISR)IM Vadim Faibisovich (RUS)IM Alexander Lysenko (RUS)Mark Ruderfer (RUS)GM Nikolay Legky (FRA) IM Aleksander Veingold (EST)WIM Ligia Jicman (ROU)FM Yunus Hasan (BAN)FM Danilo Buela Valdespino (CUB)WFM Valeria Dotan (ISR) WIM Lyudmila Aslanian (UKR)WFM Jambaldoo Lkhagva (MGL)Zdenek Zavodny (CZE) A total of €37,000 will be distributed among them. Since the program’s inception twelve years ago, FIDE has allocated nearly €500,000 in support of chess veterans. As in previous years, we will honor these distinguished veterans with brief profiles highlighting their careers and achievements, recognizing their enduring contributions to the game of chess. Leonid Yudasin (ISR) Born in 1959 in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Leonid Yudasin was introduced to chess by his father, a strong amateur player. His progress was steady rather than rapid. Yudasin’s early career in the Soviet Union unfolded amid significant personal challenges, including discrimination and expulsion from university due to antisemitism. In 1981, he qualified for the USSR Championship; a year later, he was awarded the title of International Master, and in 1984, he won the championship of his native city. Yudasin became a joint winner of the 1990 USSR Championship alongside Alexander Beliavsky, Evgeny Bareev, and Alexey Vyzmanavin. Beliavsky claimed the title on tiebreak, while Yudasin took silver. That same year, he earned an individual bronze medal and a team gold medal at the Chess Olympiad in Novi Sad, playing for the Soviet Union. In 1994 and again in 1996, he represented Israel at the Olympiads in Moscow and Yerevan, respectively. Yudasin qualified for the Candidates cycle twice. In 1991, he tied for fifth place at the Manila Interzonal but lost to Vassily Ivanchuk in the Round of 16. Three years later, he qualified again after finishing sixth at the 1993 Biel Interzonal, only to be eliminated by Vladimir Kramnik in the quarterfinals. His standout international result came at León 1993, where he won ahead of Alexey Vyzmanavin, Veselin Topalov, Anatoly Karpov, and a young Peter Lékó. His tournament victories include Leningrad 1989, Calcutta 1990, Pamplona 1990/91 (and jointly in 1991/92 with Miguel Illescas), Dos Hermanas 1992, the Botvinnik Memorial 1995, the Haifa Super Tournament 1996, and St. Petersburg White Knights 1998. At Reggio Emilia, he tied for first with Dimitri Komarov in 1997/98 (ceding the title on tiebreak) and won outright in 1999/2000. In 2002, he tied for first at the U.S. Masters Chess Championship. Yudasin lived in Israel for many years and was twice Israeli champion, winning in Tel Aviv (1994) and Jerusalem (1996). He has won tournaments across the United States and placed second at the 1990 U.S. Open and the 2001 World Open in Pennsylvania. Since 2002, he has resided primarily in New York, frequently competing in the weekly Masters tournament at the Marshall Chess Club. In 2004, he won a strong tournament in Montreal, Canada. He is also a coach and director of the Brooklyn Chess Academy. Among his notable former students are Varuzhan Akobian, Maurice Ashley, Irina Krush, and Jennifer Shahade. Yudasin authored the monumental historical-philosophical work The Millenary Chess Myth (2004). Florin Gheorghiu (ROU) Photo: Alexandru Dolea Florin Gheorghiu stands as Romania’s most accomplished chess player and the nation’s first Grandmaster. Born in Bucharest in 1944, he rose to international prominence by winning the World Junior Chess Championship in 1963. A nine-time Romanian National Champion, Gheorghiu represented his country in 14 Chess Olympiads between 1962 and 1990, primarily on top board. His career peak arrived in 1980, when he reached world No. 10 with an Elo rating of 2605 – a record unmatched by any other Romanian player. Among his notable international achievements are a perfect 11/11 score at the 1970 Manila Open, three consecutive U.S. Open titles (1979–1981) and a historic victory over Bobby Fischer at the 1966 Havana Olympiad. After retiring from competitive play with a final FIDE rating of 2367, Gheorghiu remains celebrated as one of Romania’s greatest chess figures. Beyond competition, Florin Gheorghiu has made a lasting contribution to chess culture through his books and writings, culminating in his most recent volume, Art in Chess and in Life, a reflective volume that blends elite-level analysis with personal insights from more than four decades at the highest level of the game. Irina Levitina (USA) Photo: World Chess Hall of Fame / Austin Fuller Irina Levitina is a distinguished Woman Grandmaster (awarded 1976) whose career spans more than five decades at the highest levels of international chess. While also recognized as an elite bridge player, her enduring legacy lies in competitive chess –particularly her campaigns in the Women’s World Championship cycle – and her decades of coaching and mentorship. Born in 1954 in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Levitina began playing chess seriously around age ten. Her formal training commenced at the Pioneers Palace in her hometown under the guidance of Master Byvshev. Later she worked with Master Kondratiev, and GM Furman (coach of the 12th World Champion, Anatoly Karpov). She progressed rapidly, winning the USSR Girls’ Championship in 1969. Two years later, she claimed the USSR Women’s Championship title in 1971—a feat she repeated in 1978, 1979, and 1981. Her pursuit of the women’s world championship culminated in a title match against Maia Chiburdanidze in 1984, which Levitina lost. She also played a pivotal role in the Soviet Union’s Chess Olympiad successes, contributing to gold medal victories from 1972 to 1988. After emigrating to the United States in 1990, Levitina became U.S. Women’s Champion in 1991 (jointly), 1992, and 1993 (jointly). As a co-founder and coach at the International Chess Academy (ICA), Levitina has mentored numerous students to expert and master strength. Her coaching emphasizes tournament preparation, strategic understanding, and long-term player development. In 2024, Irina Levitina was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame. Boris Postovsky