2nd 4NCL Online Congress
 

We, Chess Scotland, have reached out to the Scottish Government for guidance on when we can return to both club / league and tournament chess.
 
It looks like Clubs will be able to start back from 14th of September when the restriction on indoor events are lifted, however that date may change and is not set in stone.  There will be an upper limit to how many can meet indoors and that will determine whether leagues can start.  
 
Tournaments will not be able to start at this time.  We gave indicative numbers we get at our events and they would be too big.
 
The SG agreed with the Guidance we have and said that would have to be in place as also agreed there should be the recording of who is there (names and addresses) in case someone in the clubs comes down with C-19 to allow track and trace.
 
So no clubs should be open at the moment.  If they are, they are in breach of the SG guidelines. 
 
For reference, to allow clubs to open hopefully on the 14th of next month, the following have to apply.
 
Venues will be limited to x number of people (to be determined by the Government)
Players and Arbiters only allowed in the playing hall, when matches finish, players must leave the hall
All equipment must be sanitised before the start of play of play
Hand sanitizers must be available
Face coverings to be worn at all time 
Venues must have adequate ventilation to prevent virus load building up
Players must sign a declaration that they do not have any symptoms of Covid 19 before being allowed into the playing hall 
Boards have to be separated by 1.5 - 2m
Someone at the Club must be responsible for recording the names and addresses of all attendees each evening.

It will also be posted on the website news.

To follow the live games over the weekend, click here.

Currently on Round 3, tomorrow (Sunday) is rounds 4 to 6.

Scarborough Chess Congress

Unfortunately, the Organising Committee of the Scarborough Congress has been forced to admit defeat in its efforts to hold the event this year.

We have been informed that the local authority will not make a decision on allowing venues like the Spa Centre to open before 1st October.  The company in charge of the Centre will then have to confirm the financial viability of staging events before 2021, many users having already cancelled.  That is almost certain to cause a further delay to an already tight schedule, even if it will be possible to stage the Congress.

With that timescale, and the many other uncertainties surrounding the event, it has been decided that it is in the best interests of all concerned that the decision to cancel is made now.  

We apologise to our many regulars but circumstances are beyond our control.  We look forward to returning in 2021.

Link to the FIDE Online Olympiad 2020

The link to Standings  https://olymp-results.fide.com/

Current the Base Section (25th - 27th July) in progress

Live games are here   https://olymp.fide.com/live

Scotland are playing in Division 3 (7th - 9th August)


Jim

This year's event will take place (online) starting Sunday 26th July.

Good luck to Ruairidh and the team

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotlan...orting-map

Dear All,

I got some tragic news tonight from one of Paul's friends, Paul passed away earlier tonight at 7:30pm in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. 
I will update on funeral arrangements as I get them. As I understand it is likely to be a cremation with his ashes going down to Liverpool where his family are.

I would appreciate it if you could share the news amongst fellow chess players as he was a popular guy within chess in Scotland.

I'm still a bit emotional so will post my memories of him here at a later date.

Best wishes,

David

COVID infection levels in Scotland are heading towards zero, businesses are reopening, flights are flying and schools will return to the classroom in August. As this happens in the wider community, I wonder how CS plans to get back to normal? For example, will we finish the 2019/20 Richardson Cup and SNCL events in the Autumn and are event organisers hoping to run 2020/21 events following the traditional calendar? 

On a related matter - I notice Dundee Congress in October has been cancelled. Personally, I was disappointed to see that and was wondering the rational there - still too much uncertainty to allow time for planning maybe?

Places filling up quickly for this prestigious tournament.

Kids require a Lichess account in order to register and play.


Further information and a link to the online entry form is available in the calendar section of the CS website.