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Leemisa Thuseho
LESOTHO’S first ranked chess player, Lebajoa Tšephe, dominated the 2024 National University of Lesotho (NUL) Open Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship over the weekend.
Tšephe was the top performer, winning both categories: the rapid and blitz sections.
This year’s edition was held at Netherlands Hall on the NUL campus.
The main difference between rapid chess and blitz chess is the time allowed for each player to make a move.
In rapid, a player has between 10 and 60 minutes to make a move, while in blitz, a player has 10 minutes or less per player to make a move.
Tšephe claimed the title in the rapid section after topping the final rankings with 6.5 points after seven rounds.
Karabo Mokete finished second with six points after seven rounds.
Tšephe also won the blitz section after collecting eight points from nine rounds.
He was followed by Tokelo Klaas, who managed 7.5 points, also from nine rounds.
Tšephe is also the champion of the recent 2024 Lesotho National Youth Games held in Maseru at various venues from 2 to 5 October.
However, chess games were specifically played at the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) premises in Maseru West.
In those games, Tšephe won the chess competition with 8.5 points after nine rounds.
Speaking to the Lesotho Times this week, Tšephe said that his familiarity with his contenders gave him an edge over them.
“The competition was high, but I enjoyed the tournament, and I am happy with the results,” Tšephe said.
“All the players I faced in the tournament were not strangers to me. I am used to playing against them, so that was an advantage, hence the results.”
Tšephe was also part of the Lesotho team that represented the country at this year’s Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, Hungary from 10-23 September 2024.
He was one of the best performers and was awarded a conditional International Chess Federation (FIDE) Candidate Master (CM) title.
That was his first time competing at the international level, and he returned an improved player.
“The Olympiad helped me improve as a player. The only way to improve as a player is to play against strong players. So, at the Olympiad, that is where I met top players from across the world, and I learned a lot from them,” Tšephe said.
