2026 New Year Opener Chess Championship
Open SwissStandard
58 players participated in this 7-round tournament, held from 10 Jan 2026 to 11 Jan 2026 in Maseru, Lesotho. 7 titled players from 2 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 1807, and top seed was Lebajoa Tsephe (🇱🇸 LES, CM, 1969).
George Mahommed (🇱🇸 LES, 1833) won with 6.0/7, ahead of Lebajoa Tsephe (5.5) and Karabo Mokete (5.0). Mahommed won solo starting round 4.
The biggest upset came in round 1: Mathaba Maraisane (1451) beat Mokhameleli Mohale (1806), a +355-point gap.
Location
🇱🇸Maseru, Lesotho
Dates
10 Jan 2026 → 11 Jan 2026
Time control
Standard: 60 minutes with 30 seconds increment from move 1
System
Swiss · 7 rounds
Titled players · 7
CM×5
WFM×1
WCM×1
Federations · 2 represented
🇱🇸Lesotho×47
🇪🇸Spain×1
Top 3
- 🥇
- 🥈
- 🥉
How it unfolded
Top 6 · 7 roundsGeorge Mahommed led from R4; +0.5-point edge over the runner-up.
Co-leaders
20
7
3
1
1
1
1
R4–R7 · LEAD HELD
George Mahommed held the sole lead from R4 through R7 without losing it.
R4 · HEAD-TO-HEAD · WINNER VS 2ND
George Mahommed beat CM Lebajoa Tsephe (White).
WIN STREAKS · 3 top finishers
George Mahommed 5 wins (R1–R5)CM Lebajoa Tsephe 3 wins (R1–R3)CM Karabo Mokete 3 wins (R1–R3)
Key matchups · top 4
Head-to-head between the four finishers| Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1George Mahommed | * | 1 | 1 | ½ |
| 2CMLebajoa Tsephe | 0 | * | — | — |
| 3CMKarabo Mokete | 0 | — | * | — |
| 4WCMBonolo Ntsielo | ½ | — | — | * |
Grille américaine
| # | Player | Elo | Fed | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Pts | Bu C1 | Bu | SB | Perf | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Mahommed | 1833 | LES | +17N | +8B | +15N | +2B | +3N | =7B | =5N | 6.0 | 28.5 | 32.5 | 27.75 | 2044 | +33.8 |
| 2 | Tsephe, LebajoaCM | 1969 | LES | +40B | +29N | +9B | −1N | +14B | =4N | +8B | 5.5 | 27.0 | 29.5 | 21.00 | 1943 | -2.6 |
| 3 | Karabo MoketeCM | 1845 | LES | +23B | +6N | +4B | =7N | −1B | =18N | +13B | 5.0 | 28.5 | 32.5 | 22.25 | 1851 | +3.4 |
| 4 | Joang MolapoCM | 1690 | LES | +27N | +20B | −3N | +19B | +25N | =2B | =7N | 5.0 | 26.5 | 30.0 | 20.00 | 1823 | +17.4 |
| 5 | Ntsielo, BonoloWCM | 1724 | LES | +47B | +19N | −7N | +20B | +29B | =8N | =1B | 5.0 | 26.0 | 28.0 | 18.25 | 1814 | +29.2 |
| 6 | Boitumelo Sethabathaba | 1608 | LES | +36N | −3B | +31N | +12B | −10N | +25B | +16N | 5.0 | 24.5 | 27.5 | 18.00 | 1768 | +16.8 |
| 7 | Klaas, TokeloCM | 1877 | LES | F | +22N | +5B | =3B | +18N | =1N | =4B | 4.5 | 29.0 | 32.5 | 21.00 | 1938 | +9.2 |
| 8 | Ntsonyana, Bahlakoana | 1682 | LES | +42B | −1N | +53B | +40N | +9B | =5B | −2N | 4.5 | 26.0 | 27.5 | 13.50 | 1757 | +12.6 |
| 9 | Katleho Phakisi | 1740 | LES | +30N | +46B | −2N | +15B | −8N | +24B | =10N | 4.5 | 25.5 | 27.5 | 15.25 | 1744 | +2.4 |
| 10 | Khama, Letsatsi | 1749 | LES | +41B | =21N | −13B | +32N | +6B | =14N | =9B | 4.5 | 24.5 | 27.0 | 16.75 | 1692 | -7.0 |
| 11 | Motlomelo, LihloelaCM | 1723 | LES | +31N | −15B | =17N | +30B | =16N | =40B | +27N | 4.5 | 21.5 | 24.0 | 14.75 | 1470 | -27.0 |
| 12 | Mokhameleli Mohale | 1806 | LES | −45B | +58N | +23B | −6N | =13B | +53N | +26N | 4.5 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 11.00 | 1575 | -60.0 |
| 13 | Selatela, Khiba | 1646 | LES | +56B | =14N | +10N | −18B | =12N | +17B | −3N | 4.0 | 26.0 | 27.0 | 13.75 | 1732 | +13.8 |
| 14 | Bokang, Motsamai | 1799 | LES | +53N | =13B | +35N | +16B | −2N | =10B | −15N | 4.0 | 25.0 | 26.5 | 12.75 | 1711 | -13.6 |
| 15 | Leloko Mokhameleli | 1566 | LES | +50B | +11N | −1B | −9N | F | +29N | +14B | 4.0 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 13.50 | 1827 | +68.4 |
| 16 | Lekau, Ramokotjo | 1672 | LES | =28B | +32N | +45B | −14N | =11B | +19N | −6B | 4.0 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 13.00 | 1616 | -9.0 |
| 17 | Pontso Makhebesela | 1479 | LES | −1B | +56N | =11B | =21N | +28B | −13N | +53B | 4.0 | 23.5 | 24.5 | 10.25 | 1632 | +44.8 |
| 18 | Abele Mokoma | 1713 | LES | F | =45N | +21B | +13N | −7B | =3B | +40N | 4.0 | 23.0 | 25.0 | 14.00 | 1780 | +23.2 |
| 19 | Palamo Makhele | 1547 | LES | +44N | −5B | +33N | −4N | +38B | −16B | +31N | 4.0 | 23.0 | 25.0 | 11.00 | 895 | -18.2 |
| 20 | Tsepo Masaballa | 1517 | LES | +49B | −4N | +38B | −5N | −22B | +48N | +33B | 4.0 | 22.0 | 24.0 | 10.00 | 892 | -32.4 |
| 21 | Lintle, Molise | 1601 | LES | +54N | =10B | −18N | =17B | −26N | +34B | +30N | 4.0 | 22.0 | 23.0 | 11.25 | 1416 | -19.4 |
| 22 | Batloung Lesela | 1661 | LES | +48N | −7B | +47N | −25B | +20N | =26B | =36N | 4.0 | 20.5 | 22.5 | 11.25 | 1629 | -5.2 |
| 23 | mota Tsele | 1486 | LES | −3N | +51B | −12N | −34B | +37N | +44B | +35N | 4.0 | 20.5 | 22.5 | 10.00 | 1627 | +17.2 |
| 24 | Thabo Chaoana | 1540 | LES | F | =34B | =37N | +55B | +54N | −9N | +47B | 4.0 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 7.00 | 940 | -9.6 |
| 25 | Gugushe Mongezi | 0 | LES | F | +36B | +46N | +22N | −4B | −6N | =28B | 3.5 | 22.5 | 22.5 | 10.75 | 1627 | 0.0 |
| 26 | Tsatsi Tsepo | 1494 | LES | F | +48B | +44N | −29N | +21B | =22N | −12B | 3.5 | 22.0 | 24.0 | 10.00 | 1600 | +18.8 |
| 27 | Khoabane, Makhoabane | 0 | LES | −4B | =49N | −32B | +58N | +43B | +33N | −11B | 3.5 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 6.50 | 907 | 0.0 |
| 28 | Ramakabane, Refuoe | 1565 | LES | =16N | −35B | =34N | +51B | −17N | +55B | =25N | 3.5 | 19.5 | 20.5 | 8.25 | 1312 | -18.4 |
| 29 | Lovemore Sithole | 1679 | LES | +34N | −2B | +41N | +26B | −5N | −15B | F | 3.0 | 23.5 | 23.5 | 9.00 | 1562 | -32.4 |
| 30 | Atlehang Petlane | 0 | LES | −9B | =37N | +49B | −11N | =32B | +38N | −21B | 3.0 | 22.0 | 24.0 | 8.00 | 888 | 0.0 |
| 31 | Junior Rasephei | 0 | LES | −11B | +57N | −6B | =36N | =49B | +32N | −19B | 3.0 | 21.5 | 22.5 | 6.50 | 826 | 0.0 |
| 32 | Paricio Estan, Javier | 0 | ESP | =35N | −16B | +27N | −10B | =30N | −31B | +52N | 3.0 | 21.0 | 23.0 | 8.50 | 1402 | 0.0 |
| 33 | Kananelo Khakhane | 0 | LES | F | +50N | −19B | +44B | +35N | −27B | −20N | 3.0 | 20.5 | 22.5 | 7.00 | 1431 | 0.0 |
| 34 | Lelingoane, Thabane | 0 | LES | −29B | =24N | =28B | +23N | −53B | −21N | +50B | 3.0 | 20.5 | 22.0 | 9.75 | 1424 | 0.0 |
| 35 | Lieketseng, NgataneWFM | 1603 | LES | =32B | +28N | −14B | =45N | −33B | +42N | −23B | 3.0 | 20.0 | 22.0 | 8.50 | 1489 | -13.2 |
| 36 | Ntaolana Ratalane | 0 | LES | −6B | −25N | +48N | =31B | +41N | F | =22B | 3.0 | 20.0 | 22.0 | 8.00 | 1561 | 0.0 |
| 37 | Mokonyana Matsipa | 0 | LES | −46N | =30B | =24B | =53N | −23B | +43N | =42B | 3.0 | 18.0 | 19.5 | 8.00 | 1322 | 0.0 |
| 38 | FIDE 21305935 | 0 | — | F | +43B | −20N | +47B | −19N | −30B | +51N | 3.0 | 17.5 | 17.5 | 6.50 | 732 | 0.0 |
| 39 | Fako, Letsie | 0 | LES | F | −40N | +56B | −46B | −44N | +41B | +55N | 3.0 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 4.50 | 1388 | 0.0 |
| 40 | Kutloano Mosebo | 1510 | LES | −2N | +39B | +55N | −8B | F | =11N | −18B | 2.5 | 23.5 | 24.5 | 6.25 | 1435 | -12.8 |
| 41 | Moorosi Thato | 1415 | LES | −10N | +52B | −29B | =43N | −36B | −39N | +57B | 2.5 | 18.0 | 19.0 | 4.25 | 914 | -12.0 |
| 42 | FIDE 21305781 | 0 | — | −8N | −44B | +52N | +54B | −55N | −35B | =37N | 2.5 | 15.5 | 16.5 | 4.50 | 843 | 0.0 |
| 43 | FIDE 21305919 | 0 | — | F | −38N | +50B | =41B | −27N | −37B | +54N | 2.5 | 15.0 | 15.0 | 4.25 | 1415 | 0.0 |
| 44 | Teboho, Seoete | 0 | LES | −19B | +42N | −26B | −33N | +39B | −23N | −48B | 2.0 | 20.0 | 22.0 | 5.50 | 709 | 0.0 |
| 45 | Mathaba Maraisane | 1451 | LES | +12N | =18B | −16N | =35B | F | F | F | 2.0 | 19.5 | 19.5 | 8.00 | 1699 | +47.6 |
| 46 | Theoha, Pheta | 1614 | LES | +37B | −9N | −25B | +39N | F | F | F | 2.0 | 19.5 | 19.5 | 6.00 | 940 | -13.2 |
| 47 | Bulane, Maliba | 0 | LES | −5N | +54B | −22B | −38N | F | +51B | −24N | 2.0 | 19.0 | 20.0 | 3.00 | 842 | 0.0 |
| 48 | FIDE 21305897 | 0 | — | −22B | −26N | −36B | +49N | F | −20B | +44N | 2.0 | 18.5 | 19.5 | 4.00 | 757 | 0.0 |
| 49 | Thato Lekhooana | 0 | LES | −20N | =27B | −30N | −48B | =31N | −52B | +58N | 2.0 | 17.5 | 17.5 | 3.25 | 717 | 0.0 |
| 50 | FIDE 21305498 | 0 | — | −15N | −33B | −43N | +52B | −51N | +54B | −34N | 2.0 | 16.5 | 17.5 | 3.00 | 766 | 0.0 |
| 51 | Mofihli, Matijane | 0 | LES | F | −23N | +57B | −28N | +50B | −47N | −38B | 2.0 | 15.5 | 15.5 | 3.00 | 726 | 0.0 |
| 52 | FIDE 21305943 | 0 | — | F | −41N | −42B | −50N | +58B | +49N | −32B | 2.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 2.00 | 615 | 0.0 |
| 53 | Teboho Libe | 1421 | LES | −14B | F | −8N | =37B | +34N | −12B | −17N | 1.5 | 23.0 | 23.0 | 4.50 | 892 | -31.2 |
| 54 | FIDE 21305927 | 0 | — | −21B | −47N | +58B | −42N | −24B | −50N | −43B | 1.0 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 0.00 | 771 | 0.0 |
| 55 | FIDE 21305633 | 0 | — | F | F | −40B | −24N | +42B | −28N | −39B | 1.0 | 15.5 | 15.5 | 2.50 | 738 | 0.0 |
| 56 | FIDE 21305900 | 0 | — | −13N | −17B | −39N | +57B | F | F | F | 1.0 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 1.00 | 763 | 0.0 |
| 57 | Thato, Rasethuntsa | 0 | LES | F | −31B | −51N | −56N | F | +58B | −41N | 1.0 | 10.5 | 10.5 | 0.00 | 615 | 0.0 |
| 58 | FIDE 21305870 | 0 | — | F | −12B | −54N | −27B | −52N | −57N | −49B | 0.0 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 0.00 | 1007 | 0.0 |
Key insights
Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.
Top rating gainers
- 1Leloko MokhameleliLES+68.44.0 pts · #16
- 2Mathaba MaraisaneLES+47.62.0 pts · #20
- 3Pontso MakhebeselaLES+44.84.0 pts · #13
Top rating losers
- 1Mokhameleli MohaleLES-60.04.5 pts · #10
- 2Lovemore SitholeLES-32.43.0 pts · #18
- 3Tsepo MasaballaLES-32.44.0 pts · #50
Biggest upsets
- R1+355 Elo gap
- R7+233 Elo gap
- R4+198 Elo gap