2025 Lesotho National Chess Championship
Open SwissStandard
60 players participated in this 9-round tournament, held from 26 Dec 2025 to 28 Dec 2025 in Maseru, Lesotho. 7 titled players. Top 10 Elo average was 1818, and top seed was Lebajoa Tsephe (🇱🇸 LES, CM, 1957).
Lebajoa Tsephe (🇱🇸 LES, CM, 1957) won with 7.5/9, ahead of Tokelo Klaas (7.0) and Letsatsi Khama (7.0). Tsephe shared the lead from round 5 and won solo starting round 6.
The biggest upset came in round 9: Letsatsi Khama (1709) beat Lebajoa Tsephe (CM, 1957), a +248-point gap.
Location
🇱🇸Maseru, Lesotho
Dates
26 Dec 2025 → 28 Dec 2025
Time control
Standard: 60 minutes with 30 seconds increment from move 1
System
Swiss · 9 rounds
Titled players · 7
CM×5
WFM×1
WCM×1
Federations · 1 represented
🇱🇸Lesotho×51
Top 3
- 🥇
- 🥈
- 🥉
How it unfolded
Top 6 · 9 roundsCM Lebajoa Tsephe led from R6; +0.5-point edge over the runner-up.
Co-leaders
22
9
4
1
2
1
1
1
1
R6 · LEADER CHANGE27 Dec
CM Lebajoa Tsephe takes the sole lead (5.5/6).
WIN STREAKS · 2 top finishers
CM Lebajoa Tsephe 3+4 wins (R1–R3, R5–R8)Letsatsi Khama 3 wins (R7–R9)
Key matchups · top 4
Head-to-head between the four finishers| Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1CMLebajoa Tsephe | * | — | 0 | — |
| 2CMTokelo Klaas | — | * | — | — |
| 3Letsatsi Khama | 1 | — | * | 1 |
| 4Katleho Phakisi | — | — | 0 | * |
Grille américaine
| # | Player | Elo | Fed | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | Pts | Bu C1 | Bu | SB | Perf | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tsephe, LebajoaCM | 1957 | LES | +15N | +44B | +22N | =10B | +6N | +7B | +5N | +8B | −3N | 7.5 | 47.0 | 50.0 | 40.25 | 2016 | +12.2 |
| 2 | Klaas, TokeloCM | 1857 | LES | +21B | =11N | +23N | =17B | =8N | +14B | +6N | =7B | +10N | 7.0 | 44.5 | 49.0 | 37.75 | 1947 | +19.8 |
| 3 | Khama, Letsatsi | 1709 | LES | +49N | +53B | −10N | +4B | +23N | −6B | +32N | +21B | +1B | 7.0 | 41.5 | 43.5 | 32.00 | 1903 | +39.8 |
| 4 | Katleho Phakisi | 1621 | LES | F | +50N | +36B | −3N | +35B | +22N | +17B | +6B | +7N | 7.0 | 38.5 | 38.5 | 31.50 | 2019 | +118.8 |
| 5 | Bokang, Motsamai | 1777 | LES | +24B | +12N | +8B | −6B | +44N | =9N | −1B | +18N | +13N | 6.5 | 46.0 | 49.0 | 32.50 | 1871 | +22.8 |
| 6 | George Mahommed | 1831 | LES | +29B | +18N | +33B | +5N | −1B | +3N | −2B | −4N | +17B | 6.0 | 49.5 | 53.5 | 32.00 | 1874 | +13.2 |
| 7 | Karabo MoketeCM | 1844 | LES | =20N | +31B | +13N | +11B | +10N | −1N | +9B | =2N | −4B | 6.0 | 49.0 | 53.0 | 32.50 | 1841 | +0.8 |
| 8 | Mokhameleli Mohale | 1700 | LES | +52B | +32N | −5N | +31B | =2B | +19N | +12B | −1N | =9B | 6.0 | 45.5 | 47.5 | 27.00 | 1830 | +54.0 |
| 9 | Matlali Pofane | 1657 | LES | +57N | −10B | +51N | +49B | +17N | =5B | −7N | +32B | =8N | 6.0 | 37.0 | 38.0 | 20.25 | 1775 | +44.8 |
| 10 | Thabang, Mphane | 1803 | LES | +58B | +9N | +3B | =1N | −7B | =12N | =18B | +16N | −2B | 5.5 | 49.5 | 50.5 | 28.50 | 1808 | +2.4 |
| 11 | Kemohele, Koetle | 1695 | LES | +43N | =2B | +20N | −7N | =16B | −32B | +34N | +19B | =18N | 5.5 | 41.5 | 45.0 | 26.25 | 1713 | +6.0 |
| 12 | Tumelo Putsoa | 1646 | LES | +55N | −5B | +24N | +22B | +33N | =10B | −8N | −13B | +31N | 5.5 | 40.5 | 41.5 | 20.75 | 1741 | +42.8 |
| 13 | Joang MolapoCM | 1675 | LES | +50B | =17N | −7B | F | +49N | +24B | +14N | +12N | −5B | 5.5 | 37.5 | 39.5 | 22.00 | 1762 | +14.8 |
| 14 | Selatela, Khiba | 1645 | LES | +39B | −33N | +40B | =19N | +47B | −2N | −13B | +38N | +29B | 5.5 | 36.5 | 39.0 | 20.00 | 1650 | +1.0 |
| 15 | Boitumelo Sethabathaba | 1589 | LES | −1B | =38N | =25B | +36N | −39B | +28N | =41B | +40N | +22B | 5.5 | 35.5 | 39.0 | 22.25 | 1844 | +18.6 |
| 16 | Batloung Lesela | 1638 | LES | +60N | −22B | =47N | +34B | =11N | +33B | =19N | −10B | +23N | 5.5 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 19.00 | 1700 | +24.0 |
| 17 | Khalema, Sechaba | 1806 | LES | +26N | =13B | +27N | =2N | −9B | +23B | −4N | +31B | −6N | 5.0 | 45.0 | 49.0 | 23.75 | 1716 | -21.2 |
| 18 | Lekau, Ramokotjo | 1681 | LES | +34N | −6B | −35B | +52N | +26N | +31B | =10N | −5B | =11B | 5.0 | 40.0 | 42.0 | 20.00 | 1636 | -9.0 |
| 19 | Ntsielo, BonoloWCM | 1789 | LES | +51N | −23B | +26N | =14B | +42N | −8B | =16B | −11N | +35B | 5.0 | 39.0 | 41.0 | 19.50 | 1622 | -69.2 |
| 20 | Katleho Mohale | 1579 | LES | =7B | +25N | −11B | F | +38N | =47B | +45N | −33B | +34N | 5.0 | 34.0 | 36.5 | 19.25 | 1495 | -18.4 |
| 21 | Sello, Tholoana | 1584 | LES | −2N | −57B | +46N | +28B | +58N | +27B | +44N | −3N | F | 5.0 | 31.0 | 31.0 | 16.00 | 1759 | +46.4 |
| 22 | Motlomelo, LihloelaCM | 1755 | LES | +40B | +16N | −1B | −12N | +27N | −4B | =47N | +26B | −15N | 4.5 | 43.5 | 46.0 | 19.25 | 1613 | -32.0 |
| 23 | Mphetole Mona | 1649 | LES | +38B | +19N | −2B | +35N | −3B | −17N | =40B | +41N | −16B | 4.5 | 40.5 | 44.0 | 17.75 | 1582 | -13.4 |
| 24 | Setipe Tsepo | 1511 | LES | −5N | +28B | −12B | +48N | =29B | −13N | +42B | −35N | +41B | 4.5 | 37.5 | 40.0 | 16.25 | 1277 | -46.4 |
| 25 | Kabeli, Ntoko | 0 | LES | =27N | −20B | =15N | +51B | −31N | −26B | +37B | =39N | +40B | 4.5 | 34.5 | 36.5 | 16.25 | 1584 | 0.0 |
| 26 | Makotoko Leshoboro | 1568 | LES | −17B | +56N | −19B | +50N | −18B | +25N | +39B | −22N | =28B | 4.5 | 34.0 | 35.0 | 13.25 | 958 | -41.2 |
| 27 | Lieketseng, NgataneWFM | 1612 | LES | =25B | +37N | −17B | +41N | −22B | −21N | −38B | +48N | +39B | 4.5 | 33.5 | 36.0 | 15.75 | 1528 | -8.6 |
| 28 | Nkoe, Katleho | 0 | LES | F | −24N | +37B | −21N | +52B | −15B | +49N | +45B | =26N | 4.5 | 30.5 | 30.5 | 13.25 | 1449 | 0.0 |
| 29 | Lenyane, Tau | 1572 | LES | −6N | +55B | +57N | −44B | =24N | +42B | −33N | +47B | −14N | 4.5 | 30.0 | 31.0 | 10.25 | 1454 | -37.2 |
| 30 | FIDE 21305633 | 0 | — | F | −35N | +?B | +54N | −37B | −48N | +56B | =43B | +59N | 4.5 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 4.75 | 842 | 0.0 |
| 31 | Ramakabane, Refuoe | 1597 | LES | +41B | −7N | +39B | −8N | +25B | −18N | +36B | −17N | −12B | 4.0 | 39.5 | 43.0 | 15.50 | 935 | -31.8 |
| 32 | Tsepo Tjamela | 1603 | LES | +46N | −8B | −49N | F | +40B | +11N | −3B | −9N | +36B | 4.0 | 37.0 | 38.0 | 16.00 | 1569 | -4.6 |
| 33 | Makatsa Zachia | 1764 | LES | +47N | +14B | −6N | F | −12B | −16N | +29B | +20N | F | 4.0 | 36.5 | 36.5 | 17.50 | 1671 | -30.8 |
| 34 | Kutloano Mosebo | 0 | LES | −18B | =42N | +38B | −16N | =41B | +37N | −11B | +?N | −20B | 4.0 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 11.00 | 1426 | 0.0 |
| 35 | Palamo Makhele | 1543 | LES | F | +30B | +18N | −23B | −4N | −45B | +59N | +24B | −19N | 4.0 | 33.5 | 33.5 | 14.00 | 1578 | +4.2 |
| 36 | Khoabane, Makhoabane | 0 | LES | F | +45B | −4N | −15B | +?N | +59B | −31N | +46B | −32N | 4.0 | 29.5 | 29.5 | 6.00 | 802 | 0.0 |
| 37 | Abele Mokoma | 1740 | LES | F | −27B | −28N | +46B | +30N | −34B | −25N | +59B | +45N | 4.0 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 10.50 | 812 | -26.8 |
| 38 | Leloko Mokhameleli | 0 | LES | −23N | =15B | −34N | +60B | −20B | +43N | +27N | −14B | −42N | 3.5 | 36.0 | 36.0 | 10.75 | 1466 | 0.0 |
| 39 | Tsatsi Tsepo | 0 | LES | −14N | +?B | −31N | +43B | +15N | −44B | −26N | =25B | −27N | 3.5 | 35.0 | 35.0 | 11.25 | 1344 | 0.0 |
| 40 | Moorosi Thato | 1445 | LES | −22N | +46B | −14N | +45B | −32N | +50B | =23N | −15B | −25N | 3.5 | 34.5 | 36.5 | 10.25 | 1282 | -28.8 |
| 41 | Teboho Libe | 0 | LES | −31N | =43B | +55N | −27B | =34N | +49B | =15N | −23B | −24N | 3.5 | 32.5 | 33.5 | 9.50 | 1225 | 0.0 |
| 42 | Tumisang, Moremi | 0 | LES | F | =34B | +43N | F | −19B | −29N | −24N | +51B | +38B | 3.5 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 11.00 | 1411 | 0.0 |
| 43 | Junior Rasephei | 0 | LES | −11B | =41N | −42B | −39N | +56N | −38B | =48B | =30N | +55B | 3.5 | 27.5 | 28.5 | 7.25 | 895 | 0.0 |
| 44 | Ntsonyana, Bahlakoana | 1693 | LES | F | −1N | +58B | +29N | −5B | +39N | −21B | F | F | 3.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 9.00 | 1619 | -10.8 |
| 45 | Halefo, Tsolo | 0 | LES | F | −36N | +56B | −40N | +55B | +35N | −20B | −28N | −37B | 3.0 | 27.0 | 27.0 | 6.00 | 1384 | 0.0 |
| 46 | FIDE 21305811 | 0 | — | −32B | −40N | −21B | −37N | +60N | +56B | F | −36N | +?B | 3.0 | 23.5 | 23.5 | 1.00 | 793 | 0.0 |
| 47 | Mathaba Maraisane | 1448 | LES | −33B | +48N | =16B | F | −14N | =20N | =22B | −29N | F | 2.5 | 37.0 | 37.0 | 10.00 | 1466 | +3.2 |
| 48 | FIDE 21305803 | 0 | — | F | −47B | +60N | −24B | −50N | +30B | =43N | −27B | −54N | 2.5 | 23.5 | 23.5 | 6.25 | 724 | 0.0 |
| 49 | Atlehang Petlane | 0 | LES | −3B | +?N | +32B | −9N | −13B | −41N | −28B | F | F | 2.0 | 30.5 | 30.5 | 4.00 | 1468 | 0.0 |
| 50 | FIDE 21305129 | 0 | — | −13N | −4B | +59N | −26B | +48B | −40N | F | F | F | 2.0 | 26.0 | 26.0 | 2.50 | 777 | 0.0 |
| 51 | Moketa, Lira | 1542 | LES | −19B | +54N | −9B | −25N | F | F | +60B | −42N | F | 2.0 | 21.0 | 21.0 | 2.00 | 923 | -21.2 |
| 52 | FIDE 21305773 | 0 | — | −8N | +59B | −53N | −18B | −28N | +54B | F | F | F | 2.0 | 20.5 | 20.5 | 2.00 | 875 | 0.0 |
| 53 | Senohe Chaka | 1644 | LES | +56B | −3N | +52B | F | F | F | F | F | F | 2.0 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 3.00 | 909 | -16.4 |
| 54 | FIDE 21305781 | 0 | — | F | −51B | −?N | −30B | F | −52N | −55B | +60N | +48B | 2.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 2.50 | 742 | 0.0 |
| 55 | FIDE 21305757 | 0 | — | −12B | −29N | −41B | F | −45N | −?B | +54N | F | −43N | 1.0 | 24.0 | 24.0 | 2.00 | 809 | 0.0 |
| 56 | FIDE 21305765 | 0 | — | −53N | −26B | −45N | F | −43B | −46N | −30N | F | +60B | 1.0 | 20.5 | 20.5 | 0.00 | 806 | 0.0 |
| 57 | Boitumelo, Lefaphana | 0 | LES | −9B | +21N | −29B | F | F | F | F | F | F | 1.0 | 19.5 | 19.5 | 5.00 | 1479 | 0.0 |
| 58 | Lempe Mokoma | 1566 | LES | −10N | +60B | −44N | F | −21B | F | F | F | F | 1.0 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 0.00 | 893 | -40.0 |
| 59 | Thato Lekhooana | 0 | LES | F | −52N | −50B | F | F | −36N | −35B | −37N | −30B | 0.0 | 22.5 | 22.5 | 0.00 | 842 | 0.0 |
| 60 | FIDE 21305714 | 0 | — | −16B | −58N | −48B | −38N | −46B | F | −51N | −54B | −56N | 0.0 | 20.5 | 20.5 | 0.00 | 782 | 0.0 |
Key insights
Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.
Top rating gainers
- 1Katleho PhakisiLES+118.87.0 pts · #10
- 2Mokhameleli MohaleLES+54.06.0 pts · #8
- 3Sello, TholoanaLES+46.45.0 pts · #22
Top rating losers
- 1Ntsielo, BonoloWCMLES-69.25.0 pts · #15
- 2Setipe TsepoLES-46.44.5 pts · #41
- 3Makotoko LeshoboroLES-41.24.5 pts · #57
Biggest upsets
- R9+248 Elo gap
- R9+223 Elo gap
- R8+210 Elo gap