Adam Raoof's Chess Tournaments - Corona Virus Update

Details of upcoming UK events, please provide working links if possible.
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Adam Raoof
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Adam Raoof's Chess Tournaments - Corona Virus Update

Post by Adam Raoof » Thu Mar 05, 2020 10:16 am

As I have had a few questions about this, let me make it clear that I will not be cancelling any events. I don't know of any events I work with who are even considering it, but I am just using common sense and monitoring the situation closely.

Even before this current issue we have always had hand gel / sanitisers and wipes at our events, and when we set up any chess tournament we actually clean all the boards and most of the pieces with dettol wipes as standard. This is because our players give us feedback, and we try to respond where we can.

When you are playing at any of our events you are expected to be polite at the start of the game and either shake hands or, in the current situation, wish your opponent well and start the clock.

You are not obliged to shake hands at the end of a game. Just thank your opponent for the game if you win. If you lose....

We will ensure that all the toilets have lots of soap and this will be the best preventative, as effective as any other method.

I look forward to seeing you at an event soon!
Adam Raoof IA, IO
Chess England Events - https://chessengland.com/
The Chess Circuit - https://chesscircuit.substack.com/
Don’t stop playing chess!

Andy Stoker
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Re: Adam Raoof's Chess Tournaments - Corona Virus Update

Post by Andy Stoker » Thu Mar 05, 2020 10:44 am

Spot on - clear, pro-active sensible guidance.
Of course, the national guidance may change - but this seems entirely sensible for now.
Thank you
Each player can and will make her/his own decisions

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Adam Raoof
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Re: Adam Raoof's Chess Tournaments - Corona Virus Update

Post by Adam Raoof » Fri Mar 13, 2020 4:34 pm

Events have overtaken me. I might have to find another job!

Apologies to all who hoped to play at Hampstead this weekend. We have just been informed (14.56) that we can't use the venue and we will have to cancel the tournament.

Age UK have decided to close their centres to events due to risk of infection from the Corona virus, and Hampstead is one of those venues affected.

Watch this spot for further news, but if you have paid for the current Hampstead weekend, 14-15 March, I apologise. You can have a refund or use this as credit for a future event at Hampstead.

Southend: cancelled

Jersey: just heard they have cancelled

who knows what will happen next?
Adam Raoof IA, IO
Chess England Events - https://chessengland.com/
The Chess Circuit - https://chesscircuit.substack.com/
Don’t stop playing chess!

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Adam Raoof
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Location: NW4 4UY
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Re: Adam Raoof's Chess Tournaments - Corona Virus Update

Post by Adam Raoof » Fri Mar 20, 2020 6:13 pm

During this difficult time, please look after yourselves and your children. I have put all my traditional events on hold and hope to resume in September.

We are replacing our over the board events with tournaments on lichess.org and online school matches.

Don't stop playing chess!  You can see what I am planning during the next few months on my www.chessengland.com calendar.  Please get in touch [email protected] if you need more information.
Adam Raoof IA, IO
Chess England Events - https://chessengland.com/
The Chess Circuit - https://chesscircuit.substack.com/
Don’t stop playing chess!

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Adam Raoof
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Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2008 4:16 pm
Location: NW4 4UY
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Re: Adam Raoof's Chess Tournaments - Corona Virus Update

Post by Adam Raoof » Sat Mar 21, 2020 12:08 pm

Chess England Events Online!
During this difficult time, please look after yourselves and your children. I have put all my traditional events on hold and hope to resume in September. We are replacing our over the board events with tournaments on lichess.org and online school matches.

Don't stop playing chess! You can see what I am planning during the next few months on my chessengland.com calendar. Please get in touch [email protected] if you need more information.

USE A LAPTOP TO SIGN UP - you can still use your phone app to play the games - the password to register for the events is chessengland

https://lichess.org/team/chess-england is the club

Weekends: THIS SUNDAY AT 10.30am. Online one-day chess tournaments - an experimental kind of virtual Golders Green Rapidplay on the lichess.org platform (our club is Chess England) SEE BELOW FOR HOW TO JOIN IN - https://lichess.org/team/chess-england

Evenings: weekly online chess960 (Fischer Random) tournaments in the evening to replace the Hendon Blitz - join https://lichess.org/team/chess-england

I am organising online chess matches for children, but it doesn't matter where you are, contact me if you would like your kids to get involved and playing matches.

Online chess coaching for kids - contact me if you would like to take advantage of a special offer to join chesskid.com and save on membership!

Online chess coaching for adults - I already teach online, and this seems the most logical way to teach given that my favourite meeting places have now all closed!

To enter any Chess England tournament or Chess 960 event follow these steps;

1. join lichess.org (it's free!)

2. join the Chess England club - use a DESKTOP - can't do this on a mobile yet - https://lichess.org/team/chess-england

3. donate at least £5.00 to support our work and to enable us to give money prizes - click here to register for Chess England and pay - https://lichess.org/team/chess-england

4. join all 5 Arenas to play the whole event (10.30am-11.15am / 11.30am-12.15pm / 12.30pm-1.15pm / 1.30pm-2.15pm / 2.30pm-3.15pm) - password to join will be "chessengland"

Games are 5 minutes plus 3 seconds a move
You play as many games as you can in the 45 minutes the Arena lasts
Each Arena features lichess virtual prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd
We will also award separate prizes from chessable.com, forwardchess and ichess.net for Arena winners and rating prizes
Cash prizes will be announced after Round 1 and before Round 2 starts
Cash prizes are awarded to players based on the number of points they have accumulated from the five Arenas - you don't have to play all five Arenas to win a prize
If Lichess flags you as using a computer, you will be banned
Adam Raoof IA, IO
Chess England Events - https://chessengland.com/
The Chess Circuit - https://chesscircuit.substack.com/
Don’t stop playing chess!

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