Dear Colleagues,

We were unable to invite your players to partake in the Polgar Simultaneous due to contractual commitments. I am compelled however, to let you know as others may already know that GM Judit Polgar and her husband Dr. Gustav Font were our esteemed guests from the 2nd of August to the 9th of August 2001.

She conducted two simultaneous chess exhibitions on thirty boards for day one and day two.
The results were as follows:

Day one: Botswana 1.5 - Polgar 28.5
Day two: Botswana 0 - Polgar 30

Qualification criteria for playing GM Polgar was as follows: The top three players from all our National Events of 2001 in all categories, thus IBM Individual National Championships Ladies and Men, Stanbic National Club Championships, Debswana National School Championships (Junior Boys, Girls and Senior Boys, Girls and Primary Boys and Girls) and the Roscoe Bonna Blitz Championships. The above was the composition for the first thirty on day one.  Meanwhile an open section of 150 players was conducted in the background on day one to select the top thirty for a place to play GM Polgar on day two.  The winner on day one was Ignatious Njobvu (2164) and the draw from Baone Kealeboga (unrated).

She conducted a successful workshop for a hundred and twenty participants on day three. She showed most of her favourite games including the one against Shirov in 1994 Buenos Aires where she won. She entertained a lot of questions, to which she positively and gladly responded. She also conducted a press conference with a huge audience of over two hundred of the chess fraternity including local and international press.  She also conducted live radio and television interviews.

A dinner was hosted in her honour on day three. Government Ministries and sports organisations including the Botswana National Sports Council were represented. All the 200 participating players received certificates at this dinner. Judit and her husband then left for an extensive tour of the country including excursions in Kasane, Chobe and Okavango Delta, she was seen off by the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Commerce, Mrs. Tebelelo Seretse.  Judit and her husband left the country on the 9th of August after another press conference at the airport were she was presented with a gift.

An event brochure will be posted to you as soon as it is ready.  Find a quick forwarded note from Judit.

Best regards,


Patrick Wanda
Botswana Chess Federation