(Chess) Life Returning To Normal

[Tim Spanton]

Re Sitges: Spain now requires UK visitors to present evidence of a negative covid test

[Simon Rogers]

There appears to be plenty of OTB tournaments taking place across Europe before Xmas according to the FIDE Calendar.

[David Sedgwick]

There appears to be plenty of OTB tournaments taking place across Europe before Xmas according to the FIDE Calendar.

Be careful. It may be the case that a lot of these tournaments have been cancelled, but the cancellations are not reflected on the FIDE website.

See my post on Page 32 of this thread at viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10834&p=251392#p251392.

[Paul Robert Jackson]

There appears to be plenty of OTB tournaments taking place across Europe before Xmas according to the FIDE Calendar.

Be careful. It may be the case that a lot of these tournaments have been cancelled, but the cancellations are not reflected on the FIDE website.

See my post on Page 32 of this thread at viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10834&p=251392#p251392.

There are increasing numbers of hurdles to cross when planning to travel into Europe.
Presuming foreign travel is allowed from the 3rd December.

[Tim Spanton]

There appears to be plenty of OTB tournaments taking place across Europe before Xmas according to the FIDE Calendar.

Be careful. It may be the case that a lot of these tournaments have been cancelled, but the cancellations are not reflected on the FIDE website.

See my post on Page 32 of this thread at viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10834&p=251392#p251392.

There are increasing numbers of hurdles to cross when planning to travel into Europe.
Presuming foreign travel is allowed from the 3rd December.

And not just whether we are allowed to leave England/the UK, but whether we are allowed into those few countries where events are being held

[Kevin Thurlow]

"whether we are allowed into those few countries where events are being held"

or allowed back in again!

[Nick Grey]

only after paying 1000s or more.

[Simon Rogers]

Very unlikely to get the second - there'll be a fair few marginal venues who have shut for good, or at least until some brave soul tries to reopen them.

For instance, York have lost the RI in York. Sold back to Network rail.

That had, to be honest, been coming for a while - its bang in the city center and only ever saw fairly marginal use - but all of this tipped it over. I guess we'll have to change our name
(And find a new venue, which won't be at all easy in central York!)

That's a shame. I visited York RI Chess Club while on holiday there, May last year. I was made very welcome.
I helped Noel Stewart with the junior Chess club and then had some games against Richard Hardy.
I remember Noel pinching some of my shortbread that I had bought for an unhealthy tea.

[MartinCarpenter]

It is. Getting a venue that good in central York for basically nothing for decades was some form of minor miracle

[NickFaulks]

Re Sitges: Spain now requires UK visitors to present evidence of a negative covid test

I don't mind that, but how do I get one, given that there are clearly not enough to meet demand? Do I have to claim some symptoms?

[Ian Thompson]

Re Sitges: Spain now requires UK visitors to present evidence of a negative covid test

I don't mind that, but how do I get one, given that there are clearly not enough to meet demand? Do I have to claim some symptoms?

There are quite a few places that will do it for you. Boots, for example, at 37 of their shops nationwide. But it will cost you £120.

Other private testing companies may be cheaper.

[Paul Robert Jackson]

Re Sitges: Spain now requires UK visitors to present evidence of a negative covid test

I don't mind that, but how do I get one, given that there are clearly not enough to meet demand? Do I have to claim some symptoms?

You would then have declare on your SpTH form that you have had COVID 19 symptoms.
.....that will more than likely result in a delay at the airport whilst the Spanish heath authorities screened you.

[NickFaulks]

You would then have declare on your SpTH form that you have had COVID 19 symptoms.
.....that will more than likely result in a delay at the airport whilst the Spanish heath authorities screened you.

Even if I had a negative test report? What does "screened" mean? I just have no idea how this shambles works.

[Ian Thompson]

At the moment your chess playing possibilities in comparable tournaments appear to be:

Groningen - going ahead unless something changes to prevent that. Detailed arrangements to be published in September.

Groningen is now going to be cancelled unless the situation in the Netherlands has improved by mid-November.

... and now it has been cancelled.

[Paul Robert Jackson]

You would then have declare on your SpTH form that you have had COVID 19 symptoms.
.....that will more than likely result in a delay at the airport whilst the Spanish heath authorities screened you.

Even if I had a negative test report? What does "screened" mean? I just have no idea how this shambles works.

Based on my on visit to Canary Islands 2 weeks ago:
....you will be seen by a doctor & nurse
.... BP Temp & oxygen saturation levels recorded
.... questions about medical history medication etc

At the time COVID Test was not required.