Following regular monthly meetings of the MQL Council it has been agreed that conditions permitting, the Leagues will recommence in January 2021. It is anticipated that this will be a shortened season and, as usual, individual Leagues will make their own arrangements and aim to finish in March / April. The President's Shield and the Merseyside Challenge Cup will also take place in this period but the latter may revert to a straight KO tournament for this season.
If the January start date is viable, then during the late autumn teams may be encouraged to play a friendly or two with each other in order to test out the arrangements in their venues. The MQL would aim to play its two outstanding 19-20 Finals and perhaps the 2020 Mimir at that time too. The teams involved in the President's Trophy have agreed to play online and so this competition will begin in September as usual.
The MQL Council will continue to meet regularly to review the situation and is confident that if and when it becomes possible to play, fixtures and distribution could be finalised and with the cooperation of teams, the Leagues' season could be underway within a month.
In the meantime after consulting with their teams about attitudes to the current situation, each Area has made the following provisions for quizzing this autumn.
Ormskirk and S&F will each run their own online league starting in early September (S&F is already running theirs).
Liverpool and Warrington will meet to agree on a possible joint online league which could also be open to Wirral teams.
Plans for Wirral teams will be announced following their AGM on 20 August.
All of these plans are of course subject to change as the situation regarding the pandemic evolves. The MQL repeats that the health and well-being of its players (and their families) is paramount in any decisions that are made.
Other dates
Wed 3 February / Thu 4 February Area heats of 2021 Mimir
Sat 13 February MQL 3rd Buzzer Tournament
Dates for President's Shield, President's Challenge and Presentation Evening are to be confirmed.