Club officials have reacted with delight to the news that competitive over-the-board chess will soon resume in Shropshire.
The prospect of hosting the club’s first league matches at its new Nerdy Café venue in the coming weeks is also being looked forward to, according to first team captain Francis Best.
It comes as the first club night of the year is due to be held at Nerdy tonight (Friday). An open invitation has been issued to players from other clubs to attend if they wish as part of a drive to encourage people back to playing face to face – if they feel comfortable doing so.
Shropshire Chess Association announced on Wednesday evening that the suspension of over-the-board chess in the county – first imposed in mid-December amid growing concerns over the Omicron variant – would be lifted.
League matches are due to resume in the week starting February 7, with Shrewsbury next due to face title-chasing Maddocks A at home on February 18. The home fixture with Newport A, which was due to take place earlier this month, was a casualty of the OTB suspension and will have to be rearranged.
Shrewsbury are only fielding one team over the board this season, and the side currently lies fourth in the five-team division one table with one win and two defeats so far.
Covid protocols agreed before the season began will remain in place. These include the strong recommendation that all players should be double vaccinated, that lateral flow tests are taken within 24 hours of the start of a match, and that players should wear masks unless their opponent agrees to play without a mask.
Best said: “Although we’re struggling to field a team, it will be great to get back to OTB chess.
“I’m looking forward to trying the Nerdy Café out for hosting matches.”
Mark Smith, club secretary, said he had made an open invitation to members of other clubs to attend tonight’s club session at Wednesday’s SCA meeting, and added that he hoped the close reciprocal relationship with the neighbouring Telepost club would continue going forward.
Tonight’s club night will run from 7pm until about 11pm, and the cost is £1. All are welcome.