It is my sad duty to pass onto the chess world the news that Gilbert Palmer is missing presume drowned. 

On the morning of August 10th Gilbert decided to watch the first eclipse of his lifetime from a small row boat off of the coast of Guernsey.  He was due back at the office at 2.00pm but never showed up, the alarm was raised at 3.30p.m.

An extensive search by coastguards, family and friends followed but unfortunately no trace of his vessel or any remains were found. 

While we cannot rule out that he may have been picked up by a passing steamer it does now seem likely that Gilbert Palmer has finally passed on to that great analysis room in the sky.