Malpas and Oswestry Chess Club are entering three teams in the new National Online Chess League that enthusiasts are turning to while normal over-the-board chess is suspended.

Organiser Charles Higgie calls his first team 'Arkell's Angels', fronted by the legendary Grandmaster Keith Arkell from Devon. Keith currently has an international rating of 2429 and played for Charles once before in Division One of the Wirral Chess League in October 2019.

Charles has also recruited Indian Grandmaster Neellotpal Das, rated just behind Keith at 2425, for his second board. His board three is Antonio Ruperez Benito from Spain, rated 2356, a FIDE Master. Board four is Paul Littlewood, an International Master, rated 2347. Paul is a former British Chess champion and current English over-50s chess champion, and Charles played in the British Over 50s tournament alongside him in Llandudno in 2016.

The second team is dubbed 'Higgie's Heroes' and players include David Friedgood, a South African–British chess master. He won South African Chess Championship in 1967, 1971 and 1973.

Brian Whyte, from Ellesmere is board two who was once Papua New Guinea champion. Board three is former Cheshire & North Wales junior champion Tim McMahon from Malpas, and board four is Peter Lovatt also from Malpas.

The third team, 'Wirral League Wanderers' includes Hiya Ray from Cardiff, Anuurai Saibayar from London, Jonathan Smith from Oswestry and Graeme Campbell from Malpas.