Competitive over-the-board chess has been suspended until further notice due to growing fears over the spread of Covid-19 and the Omicron variant, it has been announced.
The decision was taken at a virtual Shropshire Chess Association council meeting on Sunday night, and comes into force immediately.
Two division two fixtures slated for this week – Telepost C v Telepost B and Telford A v Telepost D – had already been postponed after the Telepost club chose to suspend its own OTB activities in advance of Sunday’s meeting.
It comes as the whole country waits to discover whether the Government will bring in tighter restrictions in the days leading up to and following Christmas due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.
Shrewsbury Chess Club was not represented at the hastily-convened meeting, and it is not yet known what effect this will have on twice-weekly club nights at The Nerdy Café.
Club secretary Mark Smith said he was waiting the minutes of the SCA council meeting for full details, but added it was likely that a Zoom meeting would be held for club members to decide the next step.
He said: “The one positive from our point of view is that our next meeting isn’t scheduled until January 14 and hopefully the situation will be somewhat clarified by then.”
He added he personally believed the decision to suspend OTB chess for the time being was a “sensible” one considering Shropshire Chess League matches had originally been scheduled to take place this coming week.
A statement on the Shropshire Chess Association website says: “Following a meeting on December 19 if the SCA Council, all over-the-board activities of Shropshire Chess are suspended until further notice, in light of the current Covid situation.
“If clubs or individuals have proposals arising from this – for example on the implications for the online league – please send them to SCA president Matthew Clark.”
The 2019/20 over-the-board season was curtailed due to the pandemic, and the 2020/21 campaign was held entirely online. This season has been the first in Shropshire with both over-the-board and online leagues being held in tandem.
*Club members wishing to share their views on the next steps for Shrewsbury Chess Club can email Mark Smith at markpsmith77@yahoo.com, or to contact SCA president Matthew Clark about Shropshire-wide issues email mdhc@shrewsbury.org.uk