The World Senior Team Chess Championship brings together several hundred chess players in two age categories, 50+ and 65+. Along with babies younger than six months, people aged 65 and older are most at risk for hospitalization from complications from COVID-19. And large gatherings, held indoors, increase the likelihood of disease transmission. Thus, this championship is vulnerable to derailment from COVID-19.
Yet the World Senior Team Championship is popular, as seniors (age 50+) and “super seniors” (age 65+) love playing in this over-the-board event. This year’s World Senior Team Chess Championship is February 16-27, 2025.
2020 World Senior Team Chess Championship
On March 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation concerning COVID-19 outbreaks. The proclamation suspended entry into the U.S. by foreign nationals who had, in the last 14 days, been in “certain jurisdictions where COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred.” On the list of jurisdictions was the Schengen Area of Europe. Prague, Czechia, is in the Schengen Area of Europe and was the site of the 2020 World Senior Team Chess Championship.
Fearing travel restrictions might prevent or slow their trips home, the members of the USA TOO team forfeited their last round games. The US Chess-sponsored USA 50+ team played its last round. It took first place in the 50+ Open championship, which was shortened by two rounds in reaction to COVID-19 restrictions. USA 50+ team members were able to rebook their flights home, largely due to one of their members, GM Igor Novikov, being a part-time travel agent.
2025 World Senior Team Chess Championship
In 2025, there are no longer any coronavirus restrictions for entry into the Czech Republic. The 2025 World Senior Team Chess Championship is held at the same Prague hotel which hosted the event in 2020. Unlike the abbreviated 2020 championship, the 2025 championship should last for its scheduled nine rounds.
USA Open 50+ team hopes to repeat its gold medal finish from the 2024 World Senior Team Chess Championship, while the England 1 team likewise wants to repeat its gold medal finish among the 65+ Open teams. The ratings favorite among the Women 50+ teams is the Chinese women’s team. In the 65+ women’s division, Latvia hopes to repeat its gold medal finish from 2024.
2024 World Senior Team Chess Championship
Less than a year ago, the 2024 World Senior Team Chess Championship was held in Krakow, Poland. Julie O’Neill, a member of the USA Women’s 65+ team, wrote a report on the event for the October 2024 issue of Chess Life. One part of her report concerned COVID-19:
Julie O’Neill
Elizabeth [Shaughnessy] and I caught COVID-19. Elizabeth…was unable to play the last three games, and I played while ill so as not to forfeit. We wore masks, and when we defeated Ireland 2 it was suggested that the masks intimidated our opponents.
Another interpretation is that the Ireland 2 team members feared catching COVID-19. Boards 2, 3, and 4 drew, in 27, 40, and 27 moves respectively. Ireland 2’s Board 1 Pat Hogan resigned after 44 moves. WIM Shernaz Kennedy, the winner on Board 1, played a brilliant move in their game.
