Isolated pawns

Published on 18 March 2020

Well, our hiatus just got a bit longer. In light of the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) it was announced this week that all Sheffield chess fixtures are to be postponed indefinitely.

The Executive Committee has decided to suspend the current S&DCA chess season with immediate effect because of risks of transmission of the [SARS-CoV-2] virus among potentially vulnerable S&DCA chess club members[...] Discussions will be taking place in due course about how to conclude the league programme, e.g. whether or not it would be possible to complete outstanding matches towards the end of the summer, in the "gap" left because the Summer League will not be organised in its usual format, if at all.

In line with recent government advice to avoid gatherings—and pubs and clubs in particular—we'll be pausing club nights from tomorrow.

Maybe it's time to get into some online chess? Stay healthy, keep washing your hands, see you again soon.