In times of corona, chess to fill gap

Moscow, March 18

Russia may have suspended all basketball, football and ice hockey fixtures over the coronavirus pandemic, but sports fans may find solace in a different competition beginning this week: chess.

The 2020 Candidates Tournament opened in a luxury hotel in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg this week despite a large series of suspensions of sporting events in Russia and Europe to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The chess tournament that began Monday sees eight players compete for ^500,000 and the chance to face off against the Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen. The 29-year-old has held the world’s No. 1 place since 2013.

The games between players from countries including the US and China are being broadcast on a YouTube channel run by the international chess federation (FIDE) with commentary in Chinese, Russian and English.

Mind the gap

FIDE has banned live spectators to limit the risks linked to the pandemic, but reported on Twitter on Tuesday that one million virtual spectators had tuned in from China. It also posted pictures of competitors touching elbows before a game rather than shaking hands.

In March, the organisation addressed concerns over the virus saying that postponement was “not legally and practically feasible,” unless ordered by the Russian authorities.

Photographers are only allowed “a distance of at least 6 metres from the players,” said FIDE, one of the last international sports organisations where Russia maintains an influence inherited from the Soviet Union. — AFP