Moorosi Tsiane

CHESS starlet Tšepe Lebajoa says following his eSwatini Open Chess Championship win last weekend, he has now set his target on breaking into the country’s top-10.

The 14-year-old came first and brought home a M2 000 cash prize from the tournament ahead of players from South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and the host country.

Lebajoa said he was happy with his performance that saw him winning the tournament without losing a single match just drawing with Botswana’s Botlhe Lekang. He won five of his six games.

“I am happy with how I played and also with the fact that I won because I know many wanted to win but failed,” Lebajoa said.

“It wasn’t easy and what makes me even happier is the fact that I won the tournament without losing any game. That really means a lot to me. I only drew once. I wanted a perfect score but it was not meant to be.

“Even though I drew once, I know how strong Lekang is because I have played him before.”

The young player also said he was happy with how he has improved this year.

“I am happy with my improvement compared to this time last year. I give credit to my coach, Ntate Moseli Phera, who has really helped me improve,” he said.

He said he has now set his sights to break into the country’s top-10 by March next year.

“My target now is to make it into the top-10 in Lesotho by March next year and also to be one of the best juniors in Africa,” Lebajoa said.

This year, Lebajoa has won the Lesotho Junior Chess Championship 2019 in the under-16, the Varsity Open Chess Championship and was also crowned the Best Junior in the Lesotho Open.

Meanwhile, Lesotho’s Caesar Motalingoane also won a gold medal in the development section while Theko Khanyapa finished fifth in the prestige section.