(Chess) Life Returning To Normal

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MartinCarpenter
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by MartinCarpenter » Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:40 am

John Reyes wrote:
Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:39 pm
good to hear and people safety is more important (hope by then most of the public will be vaccine by then)
One vaccine by this August maybe. You do need two to have it done properly, and that's 3 months on + likely a few weeks post that to reach full protection.

So everyone who gets their first vaccination by the end of April - as things stand that's not going to be far off most of the vulnerable groups and the vaccines do appear to offer genuinely excellent protection against ending up in hospital.

It must be a very annoying decision as August might actually be entirely possible but impossible to be sure. I could definitely imagine it being possible to hold it in Sept/October, but I presume the logistics simply don't work for that.

Wadih Khoury
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Wadih Khoury » Fri Feb 12, 2021 4:47 pm

Technically, if schools re-open on March 8th (as last planned), I would expect that Junior tournaments would be able to resume simultaneously.

Looking a bit further into the future, if restaurants can reopen in April or May, then, subject to the exact rules in place, I could see OtB tournaments resuming as long as they have proper measures in place (distancing, hand gel, masks, contact details, reduced capacity, etc...). For "normal" tournaments to resume in the UK, I wouldn't hold my breath until next winter.

Matt Bridgeman
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Matt Bridgeman » Fri Feb 12, 2021 5:12 pm

Wadih Khoury wrote:
Fri Feb 12, 2021 4:47 pm
Technically, if schools re-open on March 8th (as last planned), I would expect that Junior tournaments would be able to resume simultaneously.

Looking a bit further into the future, if restaurants can reopen in April or May, then, subject to the exact rules in place, I could see OtB tournaments resuming as long as they have proper measures in place (distancing, hand gel, masks, contact details, reduced capacity, etc...). For "normal" tournaments to resume in the UK, I wouldn't hold my breath until next winter.
I don’t think rules will relax to less than the rule of six until everyone is vaccinated twice. But I’d imagine you’re right about exemptions to under 18 activities. Youth groups are much missed, and touch wood they’ll return by Easter.

Geoff Chandler
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Geoff Chandler » Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:15 pm

Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal.

John Nunn at Chessbase:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-under-covid

After the pandemic is over John is of the opinion online play may be here to stay, I hope not but I fear he may well be correct.

"On the other hand, there are many advantages to online chess. It’s convenient and quick, there’s no travelling or accommodation
costs for the players, while the organisers don’t have to hire a hall, arrange for clocks and sets, provide refreshments, and so on.

In some discussions between my ‘senior’ colleagues, they almost all said they couldn’t wait to return to over-the-board chess. I don’t see
it like that. Certainly, over-the-board events will return once the pandemic is over, but I think much chess will switch permanently online."

Matt Bridgeman
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Matt Bridgeman » Sat Feb 13, 2021 1:10 pm

Geoff Chandler wrote:
Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:15 pm
Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal.

John Nunn at Chessbase:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-under-covid

After the pandemic is over John is of the opinion online play may be here to stay, I hope not but I fear he may well be correct.

"On the other hand, there are many advantages to online chess. It’s convenient and quick, there’s no travelling or accommodation
costs for the players, while the organisers don’t have to hire a hall, arrange for clocks and sets, provide refreshments, and so on.

In some discussions between my ‘senior’ colleagues, they almost all said they couldn’t wait to return to over-the-board chess. I don’t see
it like that. Certainly, over-the-board events will return once the pandemic is over, but I think much chess will switch permanently online."
I hope that doesn’t happen. It would be such a shame to have these giant holes in the calendar because the big events like Blackpool and Scarborough can no longer get off the ground. Or regional holes such as events only really being available in the south, or something like that. The difficulty will be to offer cash prizes for online congresses, something which has really been avoided upto this point. You’d probably create a pool of players who have only really demonstrated great form online, and no real method to prove they are legit or enhanced.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:11 pm

I think the "discussions" Nunn referred to tell their own story really.

There is going to be a considerable pent-up demand for OTB chess once this pandemic is (mostly) over, and I have little doubt that there will be moves to cater for that (not just for long standing players but those who have seriously got into chess in the past year from playing online)

Online chess - including high profile events - existed before Covid and will do so afterwards, much beyond that though and I am sceptical.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

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Paul Robert Jackson
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Paul Robert Jackson » Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:33 pm

Will serious "Online Chess" be able to rid its self of the dishonest individuals who choose to cheat?
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Paul Robert Jackson
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Paul Robert Jackson » Wed Feb 17, 2021 12:56 pm

Apart from the mention of the likely cancelation of "The British"
.....& the cancelation of Blackpool, Doncaster & Durham Congresses (there may be more).
I am making the presumption that organisers of any potential OTB Congresses are now operating a "wait & see policy" before advertising any potential events.
Paul Robert Jackson

Simon Rogers
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Simon Rogers » Thu Feb 18, 2021 12:05 am

Paul Robert Jackson wrote:
Wed Feb 17, 2021 12:56 pm
Apart from the mention of the likely cancelation of "The British"
.....& the cancelation of Blackpool, Doncaster & Durham Congresses (there may be more).
I am making the presumption that organisers of any potential OTB Congresses are now operating a "wait & see policy" before advertising any potential events.
I also posted in the Event Cancellations Category last month that the big Southend Easter Congress was announced as cancelled according to the Essex Chess Association website back on 29th December 2020.
I've travelled around a number of congress websites and there is an apparent lack of information as to future dates.

Tim Spanton
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Tim Spanton » Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:21 am

Simon Rogers wrote:
Thu Feb 18, 2021 12:05 am
Paul Robert Jackson wrote:
Wed Feb 17, 2021 12:56 pm
Apart from the mention of the likely cancelation of "The British"
.....& the cancelation of Blackpool, Doncaster & Durham Congresses (there may be more).
I am making the presumption that organisers of any potential OTB Congresses are now operating a "wait & see policy" before advertising any potential events.
I also posted in the Event Cancellations Category last month that the big Southend Easter Congress was announced as cancelled according to the Essex Chess Association website back on 29th December 2020.
I've travelled around a number of congress websites and there is an apparent lack of information as to future dates.
Organisers may be able to start planning, or thinking of planning, after the PM's speech on Monday

Simon Rogers
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Simon Rogers » Sun Feb 21, 2021 5:51 pm

Israel is a number of weeks ahead of us in vaccinations.
It was announced that they are lifting a number of restrictions. Not sure if that applies to International air travel yet but we might see some OTB tournaments being announced over there in the not to distant future.

Wadih Khoury
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Wadih Khoury » Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:49 am

March is confirmed to be another dead month for indoor activities :(

Have they shown a tentative plan for reopening indoor activities and rules of 6?

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Paul Robert Jackson
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Paul Robert Jackson » Mon Feb 22, 2021 12:04 pm

Wadih Khoury wrote:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:49 am
March is confirmed to be another dead month for indoor activities :(
Have they shown a tentative plan for reopening indoor activities and rules of 6?
Initially socialisation will be restricted to only allow outdoor activities.
I think the ECF may already be expecting that this will be another season lost for OTB Chess in the UK.
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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:05 pm

Wadih Khoury wrote:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:49 am
March is confirmed to be another dead month for indoor activities :(

Have they shown a tentative plan for reopening indoor activities and rules of 6?
Should be in place by May?
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Matt Bridgeman
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Re: (Chess) Life Returning To Normal

Post by Matt Bridgeman » Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:50 pm

No doubt only pencilled in, but all legal limits on social contact in England set to be removed on the 21st June. Presumably chess congresses will be free to spring back into life after this date. Fingers crossed!