Shrewsbury’s B and C team will this week look to build on promising starts to their online campaigns – with no apparent return to over-the-board chess in sight yet.
Table toppers Shrewsbury B will look to extend their lead at the summit of Shropshire Online Chess League division two when they face Newport Juniors, while Shrewsbury C face a daunting assignment against Newport A.
Both matches will take place on Thursday (January 20) on Lichess, and can be followed live by spectators. Team news and player handles will be published on the club’s Facebook page before the matches start.
But it appears that online matches will continue to be the only competitive chess played in the county for the time being.
All over-the-board chess was suspended by Shropshire Chess Association in December – a ruling that saw Shrewsbury’s long-awaited first home match at the club’s new Nerdy Café venue against Newport A on January 14 postponed.
Matthew Clark, SCA president, said this week that OTB chess remained suspended and that the situation would remain that way for now.
It is understood a meeting of the SCA council – which includes SCA officers and team captains – would be convened to discuss lifting the suspension before any decision can be made. It was this council that voted to bring in the suspension in December.