(Chess) Life Returning To Normal

[Jonathan Bryant]

Why would it be any worse than what might happen when playing a blind player?

Beacuse in the case of games played with a bling player you’re talking about a tiny percentage of games per round. Assuming it’s more than 0 which of course it often would be.

In the suggested example you’re talking about every game.

[IM Jack Rudd]

The posts formerly in this thread are now in the Not Chess! section.

[Ian Thompson]

The posts formerly in this thread are now in the Not Chess! section.

... including several relating to this summer's Biel chess festival.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Ah, good spot. I've moved those ones back.

[Simon Rogers]

Just been announced on BBC News website, in New Zealand, from midnight (Midday today) all restrictions are being lifted and the country will be at Level 1.
As the country have had "no new active cases for 17 days".
The only restrictions are for foreign travellers.
The New Zealand Chess Federation website states that because all restrictions have been lifted, chess clubs can now reopen and OTB can now resume.

[Roger de Coverly]

The only restrictions are for foreign travellers.

With the possible exception of Aussies, they are effectively banned.

[Paul Cooksey]

So we are saying the best chance of a GM event OTB is a match Murray Chandler vs Gawain Jones?

If so, I'd have to consider Murray lucky that Gawain needs some imminent paternity leave!

[Simon Rogers]

Is Murray Chandler now New Zealand's strongest player.?
According to the FIDE list, there are a number of FMs and the strongest is certain player called Ben Hague rated 2397 and a FM.
I was wandering if this is the same Ben Hague that played for Lancashire on top board at various times.
He also played for Oldham and North West Eagles in the 4NCL 10 years ago.
His last grade was 213 Standard Play and about the same Rapidplay back in July 2012.
Ben was with me, David Clayton from Leyland, Paul Isherwood and number of others that was part of the Lancashire Junior Chess Team which visited Leningrad back in July 1990 which Ken Gorman organised.
I'm sure a number of years ago someone telling me that he had possibly moved to New Zealand.
Anyway, on the New Zealand Chess website, there is a statement by the President Murray Chandler.

[Mick Norris]

Yes, that's the same Ben Hague

[Simon Rogers]

Thanks Mick. Just googled Ben Hague's name and there is pictures of him aswell. Sounds like he is doing very well in New Zealand on the chess front.
What does he do for a living over there?

[Ian Thompson]

The Biel GM tournament is planned to go ahead this year, but most of the rest of the usual tournaments are cancelled. Michael Adams is one of GM tournament players.

The organisers do, though, plan a "Corona Amateur Tournament" where "each player has a chessboard with his own pieces in front of him and sits offset at the same table with his opponent". The details of how this will work are not yet published. It has 19 entries at the time of writing.

The details are now published, but leave quite a few unanswered questions.

• Face masks and gloves are optional.
• Limit of 300 people in the playing hall.
• Players in the GM tournament will sit face-to-face with a plexiglass screen between them. Will that work effectively with the players still able to reach the 8th rank?
• Players in other adult tournaments will be given their own set of pieces for the duration of the tournament.
• Moving and clock pressing is done in the same way as when playing a blind player (without an assistant).
• No comment at all on how both players will be able to see the clock.
• Players in U16 tournaments will play as normal.

I find the lack of a requirement to wear a mask very surprising. The organisers seem to think it's for the benefit of the wearer, and an individual choice. I thought it was primarily to protect other people from the wearer, so should be mandatory.

The tournament now has 45 entries, although only 4 of them have made the commitment of paying the entry fee.

[Simon Rogers]

I agree Ian.
I'm surprised and disappointed that masks and gloves are not compulsory.
I'm also shocked that the U16 Tournament will play as normal.
I know children are a lot less susceptible to the virus.
But even so, many children have already died from it.

[Tim Spanton]

The precautions seem somewhat onerous to me, but it is good to see OTB chess starting to get to what may be a new normal. According to the UK government site, restrictions on UK citizens entering Switzerland will be lifted on June 15, in which case the key, from my viewpoint, will be lifting the 14-day quarantine on returning to the UK.

https://beauchess.blogspot.com/

[Alan Walton]

But even so, many children have already died from it.

Where are you seeing this data? In the UK only 0.01% of deaths are under 15 year old (about 4)

With over 90% of all deaths have pre existing medical conditions; to the majority the disease is inconvenient, but the risk is spreading it to the vulnerable

[David Sedgwick]

No comment at all on how both players will be able to see the clock.

I have no idea what will actually be done in Biel, but I made a suggestion on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/DavidSedgwickIA/sta ... 1859336193