The big day is almost here – Shrewsbury Chess Club will host its first league match at its new venue on Friday.
Oswestry A will be the first competitive visitors to the Nerdy Café for a Shropshire Chess League division one match that could have major repercussions in the battle to stay in the top flight.
Shrewsbury are currently bottom of the table having not played since the league was temporarily suspended in December, while Oswestry have been in freefall since Christmas – losing both matches while fielding weakened teams.
Oswestry have taken steps to remedy that by this week registering 2000-rated player Rudy van Kemenade, though it is not yet clear whether he will feature over-the-board or online.
But with one point separating second to fifth in the five-team division, there is plenty at stake over the coming months.
Shrewsbury, who have a game in hand on all three teams immediately above them in the table, have operated with a very limited squad for over-the-board chess this season which has seen the club field only one team in the league for the first time in living memory. But they will hope to widen their pool of available players now fears over Covid-19 appear to be receding.
They will also hope to avenge a humbling 5-0 defeat suffered at the hands of Friday’s visitors in the reverse fixture on November.
Friday’s much-anticipated match will finally see Shrewsbury play competitively at their new home. They had hoped to do so in January, but several fixtures were postponed after all competitive league chess was suspended amid fresh fears over the pandemic.
Recent flooding in Shrewsbury town centre has also affected the Nerdy Café, and a crowdfunding appeal has been set up to help support the venue after repairs were carried out. But the café has since reopened and Friday’s match will go ahead as planned.
Shrewsbury also have home matches at Nerdy lined up against runaway league leaders Maddocks A on April 8 and defending OTB champions Newport A on May 27.
Friday will also be a club night, and it is hoped as many club members as possible will be in attendance to play friendlies and watch the first team match.
The match will start at 7.30pm. For full team news and developments on the night, follow Shrewsbury Chess Club’s Facebook page.