Utopia Chess Club Sanitizes Opponents

*IA Victor Chimbamu reports:*

### CHESS FEDERATION OF LESOTHO
### 2026 NATIONAL CLUBS CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP — FINAL OFFICIAL REPORT
*Lancers Inn Hotel, Maseru | TNR1527936*

*Tournament Officials:*
– Organizer: Chess Federation of Lesotho
– Federation: Lesotho (LES)
– Tournament Director: Moorosi Moorosi
– Chief Arbiter: Morahang Motomelo
– Deputy Chief Arbiter: Masibo Malube
– Arbiter: Sechaba Khalema
– Reporting: *IA Victor Chimbamu*
– System: 6 Rounds Swiss for Teams | 60min Standard | FIDE Rated | Swiss-Manager

*FINAL RANKING AFTER 6 ROUNDS:*
Rank Team MP GP Avg Rating
**1** **Utopia Chess Club** **12** **23.5** **1815**
**2** **Mountain Kingdom Society** **10** **23.5** **1865**
**3** **Centre for Accounting Studies B** **8** **20** **1461**
*PODIUM LINE-UPS:*

*1st: UTOPIA CHESS CLUB — Champions — Perfect 6/6*
Matseliso Maraisane 1733, CM Karabo Mokete 1882, Theko Khanyapa 1884, CM Klaas Tokelo 1903, Lekau Ramokotjo 1633, Libe Sofonea 1674, Selateka Khiba 1660

*2nd: MOUNTAIN KINGDOM SOCIETY — Silver — 10 MP*
Pontso Makhbesela 1521, CM Tsephe Lebajoa 1954, George Mahommed 2001, Bokang Motsamai 1821, Ntsonyana Bahlakoana 1792, Khama Letsatsi 1756

*3rd: CENTRE FOR ACCOUNTING STUDIES B — Bronze — 8 MP*
Majalle Matseliso, Thamae Letile, Libe Teboho 1421, Kabeli Ntoko 1627, Bokang Nthole 1456, Morake Phamotse

*Analysis by IA Victor Chimbamu:*
Utopia dominated with a 100% match record, dropping only 0.5 board points in the entire championship. Mountain Kingdom finished equal on game points (23.5) but second on match points after 1 loss. The bronze race saw CAS B edge out Moralis Institute and NUL CC, all on 8 MP.

The championship was conducted under FIDE Laws, fair play observed, no appeals. The award ceremony was held under the banners of FIDE, African Chess Confederation, LSRC and LNOC.

*Verified Sources:* Chess-Results TNR1527936 + Chess Federation of Lesotho Official Facebook Post 02-Nov-2026

This was a Swiss tournament with six games played which Utopia won convincingly. The players showed some character during the tournament and they deservedly won it winning all their games from the team event. Lesotho Chess Federation is doing well in the planning of rated events. This is stemming from FA Monaheng taking part in Samarkand as an Arbiter. The Chess Olympiad is like the Soccer World Cup which was recently won by Spain.
There was a lot of exposure to the IA- Elect who had the exposure to some DGT boards which transmit games live via the internet. So many people around the World are able to watch the games from different locations in the whole World. As we are now a global village it becomes easy by the click of a button to be able to watch these games. The exposure is certainly paying off and the growth of the game in Lesotho will be inevitable.
Yours truly was also among the Organizers.Certainly more rated tournaments will be played and a lot of improvements will be there in Lesotho because of the exposure. It surely will leave the country with many rated players as is evidenced by the rated players that took part in this tournament.
*Report Compiled By:*
*IA Victor Chimbamu*
International Arbiter

Post published in: Featured

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *