Item 1 – Message received today (31st May) from League Secretary as follows:
Dear All,
I am writing to all NSDCA clubs having been asked to do so by Robert Milner.
It has become clear that concluding this season will not be possible. As such this current season will not be restarted. All games played up to the point of suspension will be counted for grading and the results of matches played and league standings will be recorded for our archives . However no league titles or trophies will be awarded. Arrangements for the AGM will be agreed in due course.
May I take this opportunity to wish everyone well. I look forward to the day we can get back to over the board chess but until then stay safe.
With best wishes
Robert West
2. Club Online Update
Tuesday night saw our 4NCL team beaten by top of the (div 3) table team – Hull Romans. Thanks to Neville Layhe gaining a hard earned draw we avoided the dreaded whitewash.
Wednesday night saw an internal 15 minute Rapid-play (5 round swiss) event using Lichess’s pairing system (clearly not as good as our own David Hulme’s ?). There was a standout performance from Kobus Nienaber who toppled David Hulme in round 1 and later beat top seed Karl Lockett, to finish as winner with 4/5 under Lichess tie-break rules ahead of junior Harry Gardiner with the same score of 4/5. There was a field of 10 players for the event, which was lower than the 16 we had a fortnight earlier. I suspect our beautiful weather may have proved too much of a temptation compared to the prospect of being tied to a computer for nearly 2.5 hours LOL.