13th Richmond Blitz - "Rik Thomas Memorial"

[Matt Bridgeman]

Postcode area for the venue shows 590 positive cases in last 24 hours. I'm guessing that might be the record for there? Zoe Covid Study estimates 3146 active cases there. Although the Golder's Green event for the same day (Camden) threw up 822 cases for the last 24 hours. Zoe Study estimates 4869 active cases there. Presumably mostly all Omicron now.

[NickFaulks]

If you go out and play chess in London, there is a fair chance that you will catch Omicron.

If the chess is cancelled and you go out and do something else in London, there is a fair chance that you will catch Omicron.

If you are going to try to evade Omicron by staying at home, you will do that whether or not the chess is cancelled.

Take your pick.

[Matt Bridgeman]

If you go out and play chess in London, there is a fair chance that you will catch Omicron.

If the chess is cancelled and you go out and do something else in London, there is a fair chance that you will catch Omicron.

If you are going to try to evade Omicron by staying at home, you will do that whether or not the chess is cancelled.

Take your pick.

I guess most people are now avoiding pubs, restaurants and public transport. Christmas shopping crushes are probably a hard one to avoid. I think most people are quite happily just seeing friends and family, not necessarily just hiding in their houses. I reckon playing hours of blitz on Saturday must be as risky as being in the Christmas shopping crush for hours at a time. I see in Denmark they’re getting a similar Omicron outbreak to us, but on Sunday they shut down a lot of businesses (and presumably any big chess tournaments).

[NickFaulks]

I guess most people are now avoiding pubs, restaurants and public transport.

I assume you are having to guess because you are not actually going out to sniff the air.

I travelled to yesterday evening's match on a rush hour train and there was no hope of getting a seat, I was happy just to get on. That has also been the norm for the Underground. Afterwards we went to a big Wetherspoons, which was crammed until after midnight. Restaurants are looking a bit empty for the time of year though. I wonder whether people are cheesed off that their organised events are getting cancelled and are just going to the pub instead.

[Adam Raoof]

is this happening? no pairings online as yet

[John Upham]

is this happening? no pairings online as yet

http://chess-results.com/tnr586420.aspx?lan=1 is awaiting round 1.


What time did that start?

[Matt Bridgeman]

There’s got to be something ironic about holding a covid memorial chess event in London on the day the Mayor calls a major incident due to Omicron.

[Adam Raoof]

they have no internet... but they could use a phone as a hotspot? It's better than crowding round a piece of paper (especially as I can never get my printer to work)

[Matt Bridgeman]

they have no internet... but they could use a phone as a hotspot? It's better than crowding round a piece of paper (especially as I can never get my printer to work)

Looking at the (in play not posing) photos of your event last weekend, there seem barely 50% of players wearing face masks.