A fierce competition is expected at the 2017 Metropolitan National Chess Championships as the competition reaches its climax. The championships reach the final stage with the finals to be played from the 28th April to 1st May 2017 at Cresta President Hotel. While defending champion in the open section Barileng Gaealashwe will be looking to retain his title others are already working hard to dethrone him. Gaealashwe is however determined to do all that it takes to retain his title regardless of any competition coming his way. Among others he faces stiff challenge from International Master (IM) Providence Oatlhotse - the highest rated chess player in Botswana. He will be looking to redeem himself after he was eliminated in the qualifiers last year. The International master did not take well his elimination and will be out to prove his point on the board this year. Oatlhotse’s determination has already been visible as he finished the 2nd in the qualifiers. It is expected that his determination and experience will help him win the title. However, there are some other players who are equally capable of giving the defending champion a run for the money, including candidate master Thabo Gumbo, and CM…