2026 BMI Lesotho Open Chess Championship-Prestige

Open SwissStandard

37 players participated in this 7-round tournament, held from 06 Feb 2026 to 08 Feb 2026 in Berea, Lesotho. 4 titled players from 2 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 1928, and top seed was Lwazi Selepe (🇿🇦 RSA, 2042).

Lwazi Selepe (🇿🇦 RSA, 2042) won with 6.0/7, ahead of Lebajoa Tsephe (5.5) and Sello Mahlangu (5.5). Selepe won solo starting round 4.

The biggest upset came in round 3: Immanuel Magagula (1680) beat Tokelo Klaas (CM, 1886), a +206-point gap.

Location

🇱🇸Berea, Lesotho

Dates

06 Feb 2026 → 08 Feb 2026

Time control

Standard: 60 minutes with 30 seconds increment from move 1

System

Swiss · 7 rounds

Top seed

🇿🇦Lwazi Selepe2042

Avg top 10

1,928

Participants

Titled players · 4

CM×4

Federations · 2 represented

🇱🇸Lesotho×25

🇿🇦South Africa×12

Top 3

🥇
Lwazi Selepe
🇿🇦RSA·2042
6.0pts·2166perf+18.0
🥈
CMLebajoa Tsephe
🇱🇸LES·1966
5.5pts·2077perf+19.0
🥉
CMSello Mahlangu
🇿🇦RSA·2013
5.5pts·2095perf+14.6

How it unfolded

Top 6 · 7 rounds

Lwazi Selepe led from R4; +0.5-point edge over the runner-up.

Co-leaders

Selepe6Tsephe5.5Mahlangu5.5Sikwati5Chettiar5Teeke4.5

R4–R7 · LEAD HELD

Lwazi Selepe held the sole lead from R4 through R7 without losing it.

R4 · HEAD-TO-HEAD · WINNER VS 2ND

Lwazi Selepe beat CM Lebajoa Tsephe (White).

WIN STREAKS · 3 top finishers

Lwazi Selepe 5 wins (R1–R5)CM Lebajoa Tsephe 3 wins (R1–R3)CM Sello Mahlangu 4 wins (R2–R5)

Key matchups · top 4

Head-to-head between the four finishers

Player	1	2	3	4
1Lwazi Selepe	*	1	½	½
2CMLebajoa Tsephe	0	*	½	1
3CMSello Mahlangu	½	½	*	—
4Lizo Sikwati	½	0	—	*

Grille américaine

#	Player	Elo	Fed	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Pts	Bu C1	Bu	SB	Perf	Δ
1	Selepe, Lwazi	2042	RSA	+13N	+11B	+7N	+2B	+9N	=3B	=4N	6.0	29.0	33.0	27.75	2166	+18.0
2	Tsephe, LebajoaCM	1966	LES	+24N	+26B	+4N	−1N	+6B	+9B	=3N	5.5	28.5	31.0	22.25	2077	+19.0
3	Mahlangu, SelloCM	2013	RSA	=12B	+23N	+21B	+17N	+8B	=1N	=2B	5.5	26.5	29.5	21.75	2095	+14.6
4	Sikwati, Lizo	1865	RSA	+32B	+28N	−2B	=13N	+20B	+17N	=1B	5.0	24.5	26.0	15.50	1955	+18.2
5	Chettiar, Evasan	1889	RSA	F	+35B	+27N	−26B	+18N	+11B	+15N	5.0	19.5	20.5	15.00	1975	+11.2
6	Khama, Letsatsi	1742	LES	=22N	+29B	=10N	+7B	−2N	=14B	+26N	4.5	24.0	26.5	15.25	1906	+31.0
7	George Mahommed	1867	LES	+35N	+31B	−1B	−6N	=25B	+13N	+17B	4.5	23.0	24.0	12.00	1873	+2.8
8	Mamonyane, Thabang	1939	RSA	=23B	=12N	+31N	+11B	−3N	=26B	+18N	4.5	22.5	24.5	14.25	1853	-12.6
9	Matsaung, Thapelo Isack	1825	RSA	+33B	+36N	=17B	+20N	−1B	−2N	+21B	4.5	22.5	23.5	10.25	1896	+15.8
10	Teeke, Karabo	1880	RSA	+25B	=20N	=6B	=21N	=13B	=12N	+27B	4.5	21.5	24.0	14.75	1800	-12.6
11	Magagula, Raymond	1760	RSA	+34B	−1N	+12B	−8N	+16B	−5N	+23B	4.0	26.5	28.0	12.50	1838	+14.0
12	Motlomelo, LihloelaCM	1696	LES	=3N	=8B	−11N	+22B	+28N	=10B	=14N	4.0	25.5	28.0	14.75	1861	+29.8
13	Matlali Pofane	1702	LES	−1B	+33N	+37N	=4B	=10N	−7B	+24N	4.0	24.5	24.5	9.25	1834	+23.8
14	Klaas, TokeloCM	1886	LES	=29N	+22B	−20B	+15N	=21B	=6N	=12B	4.0	21.5	24.0	14.00	1754	-22.8
15	Katleho Phakisi	1742	LES	+27B	−17N	+36B	−14B	+24N	+21N	−5B	4.0	21.0	22.0	9.50	1807	+26.4
16	Boitumelo Sethabathaba	1625	LES	F	=18B	+29N	=24B	−11N	+33B	+22N	4.0	18.5	20.0	10.25	1805	+29.0
17	Mathebula, Xolani Cebo	1932	RSA	+18N	+15B	=9N	−3B	+26N	−4B	−7N	3.5	27.0	29.5	12.25	1821	-20.2
18	Tumelo Putsoa	1689	LES	−17B	=16N	+34B	+30N	−5B	+25N	−8B	3.5	22.5	24.0	9.00	1759	+23.6
19	Abele Mokoma	1736	LES	−28B	=32N	=30N	=27B	−22N	+37B	+29N	3.5	14.5	14.5	5.75	1609	-47.2
20	Magagula, Immanuel	1680	RSA	F	=10B	+14N	−9B	−4N	=22B	+32N	3.0	26.0	27.5	9.25	1786	+16.2
21	Bokang, Motsamai	1786	LES	+30N	+37B	−3N	=10B	=14N	−15B	−9N	3.0	25.0	25.0	6.75	1730	-10.2
22	Machoba, Hlompho	1604	LES	=6B	−14N	+23B	−12N	+19B	=20N	−16B	3.0	23.0	26.0	10.25	1673	+12.0
23	Ntsonyana, Bahlakoana	1695	LES	=8N	−3B	−22N	+32B	=31N	+28B	−11N	3.0	21.5	23.0	7.25	1697	-1.8
24	Libe, Sofonea	1696	LES	−2B	=34N	+32B	=16N	−15B	+36N	−13B	3.0	20.5	21.5	5.25	1639	-11.8
25	Teeke, Naleli	1664	LES	−10N	−30B	+35N	+37B	=7N	−18B	=28N	3.0	18.5	18.5	4.50	1637	-6.2
26	Mokhameleli Mohale	1746	LES	F	−2N	+28B	+5N	−17B	=8N	−6B	2.5	27.0	29.5	9.75	1787	+10.0
27	Khotso Motlomelo	1612	LES	−15N	F	−5B	=19N	+30B	+29B	−10N	2.5	22.0	22.0	6.75	1703	+12.4
28	Tsepo Tjamela	1598	LES	+19N	−4B	−26N	+31B	−12B	−23N	=25B	2.5	21.0	23.0	7.00	1621	+2.8
29	Gugushe Mongezi	1677	LES	=14B	−6N	−16B	+34N	+36B	−27N	−19B	2.5	20.0	21.0	4.50	1574	-40.8
30	Leloko Mokhameleli	1634	LES	−21B	+25N	=19B	−18B	−27N	−32N	+35B	2.5	17.0	18.0	5.75	1585	-20.0
31	Batloung Lesela	1656	LES	F	−7N	−8B	−28N	=23B	=35N	+36B	2.0	16.5	16.5	3.00	1585	-24.8
32	Naidoo, Kajol	1659	RSA	−4N	=19B	−24N	−23N	F	+30B	−20B	1.5	20.0	20.0	4.25	1525	-40.8
33	Modisaotsile, Botlhale	1653	RSA	−9N	−13B	F	−36N	=35B	−16N	+37B	1.5	14.5	14.5	0.50	1439	-33.6
34	Kananelo Nkalimeng	1629	LES	−11N	=24B	−18N	−29B	+37N	F	F	1.5	13.0	13.0	1.50	1512	-15.6
35	Lekau, Ramokotjo	1663	LES	−7B	−5N	−25B	F	=33N	=31B	−30N	1.0	18.5	18.5	1.75	1455	-30.2
36	Mathaba Maraisane	1499	LES	F	−9B	−15N	+33B	−29N	−24B	−31N	1.0	17.5	17.5	1.50	1436	-8.6
37	Atlehang Petlane	1481	LES	F	−21N	−13B	−25N	−34B	−19N	−33N	0.0	16.5	16.5	0.00	896	-55.2

Key insights

Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.

Top rating gainers

1Khama, LetsatsiLES
+31.0
4.5 pts · #10
2Motlomelo, LihloelaCMLES
+29.8
4.0 pts · #11
3Boitumelo SethabathabaLES
+29.0
4.0 pts · #14

Top rating losers

1Atlehang PetlaneLES
-55.2
0.0 pts · #37
2Abele MokomaLES
-47.2
3.5 pts · #19
3Naidoo, KajolRSA
-40.8
1.5 pts · #34

Biggest upsets

R3+206 Elo gap
Magagula, Immanuel1680 beat CMKlaas, Tokelo1886
R4+154 Elo gap
Mathaba Maraisane1499 beat Modisaotsile, Botlhale1653
R4+143 Elo gap
Mokhameleli Mohale1746 beat Chettiar, Evasan1889