Sadly, in recent weeks a swathe of competitions in many sports, including competitions for athletes who are blind or partially sighted, have had to be postponed or cancelled due to the current worldwide health scare caused by COVID-19.

However, there is one sport that is thriving in spite of the virus – chess, including blind chess.

Thanks to new technologies and several on-line platforms, chess matches and competitions can continue with the players competing from home. A number of the top blind players in Romania have come together over recent weeks to host a series of competitions, cocking a snook at the coronavirus by giving the events names such as the 'Covid Cup'.

The most recent event, named the Tandem Trophy and featuring 16 of the country's top players, was won by Bursuc Mihai from Bucharest after fifteen rounds. Click here to view the full results and final standings.

For more information on chess for the visually impaired, contact the chair of the IBSA Chess Committee, Sorin Lapadatu, at [email protected].