Jacques Parry wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 7:35 pm
Do you mean a Swiss, as against an event comprising several 6-person all-play-alls? I don't think you could get away with arguing that a 5-round Swiss is actually lots of interlocking gatherings of 6. If there are 30 people at a party, it's a gathering of 30 people, even if no individual mingles with more than 5.
Please keep in mind this is purely a rhetorical discussion at this point:
I would argue that chess tournament is better than a pub/restaurant.
Technically, a pub or restaurant will be allowed to have more than 30 people inside, as long as they are in groups of 6 or less (or 2 households). Said people can stay for multiple hours at their tables, while talking and emitting lots of aerosols. They can then come back in different groups for dinner and for a late drink.
The rhetorical argument for chess is that,
as long as players leave the premises in between rounds (or stay outside where restrictions will be very light), in a 5 round congress, a player will only mingle with 5 other players, on an 1-1 basis, in a quiet (i.e. no talking) environment, over the course of 2 days.
I think therefore an argument could be made to local health authorities that the event is compatible with indoor rules and a much lower risk than a pub. Of course, laws and guidance do not cover chess as policy maker are not even aware of the existence of our sport, hence it may be a good idea, should one want to test the idea, to ask for local authorities their views on the subject. I believe before lockdown #2 that the Northumberland team did a fantastic job in engaging with local authorities to determine an acceptable and safe operating model.