John Nunn wins World Chess Problem Solving Championship

31st World Chess Problem Solving Championship

The World Chess Problem Solving Championship took place in Rhodes, Greece, on 16th-17th October 2007. This was one of the strongest solving championships ever held; in addition to defending champion Piotr Murdzia, the former world champions Ofer Comay, Michel Caillaud, Michael Pfannkuche, Georgi Evseev, Arno Zude, Noam Elkies, Jonathan Mestel, Jorma Paavilainen, Andrey Selivanov and John Nunn were also taking part.

The world championship consists of six timed papers, each consisting of three problems or studies. The six papers cover two-movers, three-movers, studies, helpmates, moremovers (mates in more than three moves) and selfmates. Five points are awarded for each position, according to how complete the solver’s solution is, so 15 points is the maximum score for each of the six rounds.

At the end of the first day, with three rounds completed, Mestel, Comay and Murdzia had a perfect score, while Evseev had dropped half a point. Nunn was slightly further behind with 44 points out of a possible 45.

The second day’s problems are generally more testing than those on the first day, but in the first round of the day the favourites generally did well. Mestel, Comay, Evseev and Nunn all scored a maximum, but Murdzia dropped two points to fall behind.

However, the second round of the day, the moremovers, devastated the field. Evseev dropped four points and Comay a massive eight. The biggest shock was that Jonathan Mestel scored no points at all in the moremovers. Afterwards, he explained that instead of just concentrating on one problem and making sure that he got five points, he jumped from one to another and ended up not solving any of them. All solvers know that such a disaster is never far away when there is a difficult round.

This round proved decisive in that John Nunn managed a perfect score, and at a stroke he overtook all his rivals and established a clear lead. In the last round, the selfmates, Murdzia and Comay managed a perfect score, but it was to no avail since Nunn did likewise, maintaining his lead. The final leading scores were: Nunn 89, Evseev 83.5, Murdzia 83, Comay 82, Zude 75, Tummes 73 (82 participants). When we asked John about his incredible 89/90 score he replied dryly: "Well, that leaves room for improvement."

No.	SOLVER		#2		#3		Endgames		H#		#n		S#		Total
			pts	time	pts	time	pts	time	pts	time	pts	time	pts	time	pts	time
		max.	15	20	15	60	15	100	15	50	15	80	15	50	90	360
1	John Nunn	GBR	15	17	14,0	53	15,0	46	15,0	50	15,0	61	15,0	46	89,0	273
2	Georgy Evseev	RUS	15	20	15,0	60	14,5	62	15,0	32	11,0	80	13,0	50	83,5	304
3	Piotr Murdzia	POL	15	20	15,0	59	15,0	80	13,0	50	10,0	80	15,0	49	83,0	338
4	Ofer Comay	ISR	15	18	15,0	58	15,0	36	15,0	24	7,0	80	15,0	36	82,0	252
5	Arno Zude	GER	15	17	15,0	59	12,0	100	10,0	50	8,0	80	15,0	50	75,0	356
6	Boris Tummes	GER	15	20	13,5	60	14,5	100	13,0	50	12,0	80	5,0	50	73,0	360
7	Andrey Selivanov	RUS	15	20	8,5	60	10,5	100	15,0	25	13,0	80	10,0	49	72,0	334
8	Michael Pfannkuche	GER	15	20	15,0	49	13,5	86	8,5	50	11,0	80	9,0	50	72,0	335
9	Volodimir Pogorelov	UKR	15	20	13,5	60	15,0	71	13,0	50	0,0	80	15,0	50	71,5	331
10	Noam Elkies	ISR	15	20	14,0	60	15,0	74	7,5	50	4,5	80	15,0	50	71,0	334
11	Vladimir Podinic	SRB	15	20	14,5	60	15,0	70	13,0	50	3,0	80	10,0	50	70,5	330
12	Eddy Van Beers	BEL	15	20	5,0	60	15,0	70	10,5	50	11,0	80	13,0	50	69,5	330
13	Alexander Feoktistov	RUS	15	19	10,0	60	13,5	100	8,0	50	11,5	76	11,0	50	69,0	355
14	Kari Karhunen	FIN	15	20	13,5	60	12,0	98	13,0	50	1,0	80	14,0	50	68,5	358
15	Aleksandr Bulavka	BLR	15	20	8,0	60	15,0	72	13,0	50	5,0	80	12,0	50	68,0	332
16	Jonathan Mestel	GBR	15	20	15,0	60	15,0	74	15,0	50	0,0	80	8,0	50	68,0	334
17	Valery Kopyl	UKR	15	20	8,0	60	15,0	95	15,0	41	1,0	80	12,0	50	66,0	346
18	Hans Uitenbroek	NLD	15	17	9,0	60	11,0	100	13,0	50	6,0	80	11,0	50	65,0	357
19	Mikheil Gabeskiria	GEO	15	20	8,5	60	15,0	84	8,0	50	8,0	80	10,0	50	64,5	344
20	Andrey Petrov	RUS	15	20	13,5	60	6,5	89	11,0	50	8,0	80	10,0	50	64,0	349

Nunn’s score was unusually high and his winning margin was also exceptional. This is the second time he has been world champion, the previous occasion being in 2004. In 2005 and 2006 he finished third.

The World Chess Solving Championship also functions as an event for national teams, and operates by combining the scores from each country’s three solvers. Great Britain had previously won the team event in 2005 and 2006, and this year they repeated their success, based substantially on Nunn’s individual score. The leading countries were: Great Britain 163, Russia 158.5, Germany 158, Israel 155.5, Poland 153.5, Serbia 143.5. The other two British solvers were Jonathan Mestel and David Friedgood.

No.	SOLVER	#2		#3		Endgames		H#		#n		S#		Total
		pts	time	pts	time	pts	time	pts	time	pts	time	pts	time	pts	time
	max (indiv.)	15	20	15	60	15	100	15	50	15	80	15	50	90	360
	max (team)	30	40	30	120	30	200	30	100	30	160	30	100	180	720
1	GREAT BRITAIN	30	36	29,0	113	30,0	120	30,0	100	19,0	141	25,0	96	163,0	606
1	John Nunn	15	17	14,0	53	15,0	46	15,0	50	15,0	61	15,0	46	89,0	273
16	Jonathan Mestel	15	20	15,0	60	15,0	74	15,0	50	0,0	80	8,0	50	68,0	334
39	David Friedgood	15	19	5,0	60	14,5	86	5,0	50	4,0	80	10,0	50	53,5	345
2	RUSSIA	30	40	23,5	120	25,0	162	30,0	57	24,0	160	26,0	100	158,5	639
2	Georgy Evseev	15	20	15,0	60	14,5	62	15,0	32	11,0	80	13,0	50	83,5	304
7	Andrey Selivanov	15	20	8,5	60	10,5	100	15,0	25	13,0	80	10,0	49	72,0	334
33	Alexandr Azhusin	15	20	5,0	60	8,0	100	11,0	50	8,0	80	13,0	50	60,0	360
3	GERMANY	30	37	30,0	108	28,0	186	23,0	100	23,0	160	24,0	100	158,0	691
6	Boris Tummes	15	20	13,5	60	14,5	100	13,0	50	12,0	80	5,0	50	73,0	360
5	Arno Zude	15	17	15,0	59	12,0	100	10,0	50	8,0	80	15,0	50	75,0	356
8	Michael Pfannkuche	15	20	15,0	49	13,5	86	8,5	50	11,0	80	9,0	50	72,0	335
4	ISRAEL	30	33	29,0	118	30,0	110	25,0	74	11,5	160	30,0	86	155,5	581
10	Noam Elkies	15	20	14,0	60	15,0	74	7,5	50	4,5	80	15,0	50	71,0	334
4	Ofer Comay	15	18	15,0	58	15,0	36	15,0	24	7,0	80	15,0	36	82,0	252
38	Mark Erenburg	15	15	8,5	60	9,0	98	10,0	50	2,5	80	10,0	50	55,0	353
5	POLAND	30	40	25,0	119	30,0	137	21,5	100	22,0	160	25,0	99	153,5	655
3	Piotr Murdzia	15	20	15,0	59	15,0	80	13,0	50	10,0	80	15,0	49	83,0	338
31	Bogusz Piliczewski	15	20	9,0	60	11,5	100	8,0	50	12,0	80	5,0	50	60,5	360
25	Jacek Stopa	15	20	10,0	60	15,0	57	8,5	50	3,5	80	10,0	50	62,0	317
6	SERBIA	30	37	29,5	106	23,5	162	28,0	98	12,5	160	20,0	98	143,5	661
32	Marjan Kovacevic	15	17	15,0	46	8,0	100	13,0	50	4,0	80	5,0	50	60,0	343
26	Milan Velimirovic	15	20	5,0	60	8,5	92	15,0	48	8,5	80	10,0	48	62,0	348
11	Vladimir Podinic	15	20	14,5	60	15,0	70	13,0	50	3,0	80	10,0	50	70,5	330
7	UKRAINE	30	40	21,5	120	30,0	166	28,0	91	5,0	160	27,0	100	141,5	677
17	Valery Kopyl	15	20	8,0	60	15,0	95	15,0	41	1,0	80	12,0	50	66,0	346
9	Volodimir Pogorelov	15	20	13,5	60	15,0	71	13,0	50	0,0	80	15,0	50	71,5	331
57	Sergey Borodavkin	10	20	5,0	60	9,0	100	5,0	50	4,0	80	11,0	50	44,0	360
8	FINLAND	25	40	27,5	120	26,5	195	28,0	98	5,5	160	27,0	100	139,5	713
14	Kari Karhunen	15	20	13,5	60	12,0	98	13,0	50	1,0	80	14,0	50	68,5	358
52	Jorma Paavilainen	5	20	10,0	60	3,5	100	15,0	48	1,0	80	13,0	50	47,5	358
24	Harri Hurme	10	20	14,0	60	14,5	97	10,0	50	4,5	80	10,0	50	63,0	357
9	NETHERLANDS	30	35	18,5	120	29,5	193	21,0	100	15,0	160	23,0	100	137,0	708
28	Dolf Wissmann	15	18	8,5	60	15,0	100	3,5	50	8,0	80	12,0	50	62,0	358
46	Peter v. d. Heuvel	0	20	9,5	60	14,5	93	8,0	50	7,0	80	11,0	50	50,0	353
18	Hans Uitenbroek	15	17	9,0	60	11,0	100	13,0	50	6,0	80	11,0	50	65,0	357
10	SLOVAKIA	25	39	21,0	120	25,5	176	23,0	100	13,0	160	21,5	100	129,0	695
34	Emil Klemanic	10	20	12,5	60	14,5	76	5,0	50	5,0	80	11,0	50	58,0	336
29	Marek Kolck	15	19	5,0	60	11,0	100	13,0	50	8,0	80	10,0	50	62,0	359
58	Lubomir Sirn	10	20	8,5	60	4,5	97	10,0	50	0,0	80	10,5	50	43,5	357

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A sample of the problems

All Black's available moves are already provided with a white mate, for example if the b5-knight moves, then Nd4#, or if the d6-knight moves, then Qe4#. Thus if White had a pure waiting move, then the problem would be solved. However, there is no pure waiting move, for example 1 Bb3 would give Black the extra possibility of 1...a2.

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Here is a more complex problem. In a solving event, to get full marks you have to not only give the key move, but also all the variations leading to mate. When there are several variations, it is easy to miss one and thereby drop a point or half-point.

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In this problem, the key move is far from obvious. Black will play ...hxg1 and will have a choice of four promotion pieces; note especially the choice of a rook, by which Black attempts to stalemate himself. The key idea is to focus on the most awkward promotion and see if that helps to determine the key move. The large number of complex variations caused several solvers to drop points on this problem.

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Although there is only a single line of play, and Black's moves are almost all forced, this problem defeated a number of solvers, including former champion Jonathan Mestel. Black is in stalemate, so White's first move must allow the black king to move. Then, to prevent Black's pieces coming out, White must immediately force the king back to c5. The question is how White can make progress while keeping Black bottled up.

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In this problem White must force Black to deliver mate in 5 moves (White starts). Long selfmates can be very difficult to solve, but a good start is to spot a possible final mating position. Here Black has only three legal moves, and after 1...Bxb7 John saw the plausible line 2 something exf3 3 Qd3+ Rc3 4 something Rxd3 5 Bd5+ Rxd5#. The obvious problem here is that there are three unknown White moves, which have to be used up somehow.

Links

• PCCC – Permanent Commission for Chess Compositions

The PCCC operates under a mandate from the FIDE, with chess federations or chess problem societies of 39 countries participating. The task of the Commission is to pay attention to all matters of international interest in problem chess and studies within the framework of the FIDE. In particular, its duties include:

1. The dissemination and encouragement of chess composition throughout the world.
2. The formulation of rules and guide-lines in all spheres of chess composition.
3. The arrangement of official international composing and solving tourneys.
4. The initiation of the publication of collections of general interest, etc. (FIDE-Albums)
5. The award of titles to especially deserving representatives of chess composition including solvers, subject to the approval of the FIDE.

John Nunn with his 10-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope at his home in Surrey. Currently he is watching and worrying about the sudden million-fold brightening of Comet Holmes, which he attributes to "thermal stress" (the boring explanation) or to somebody testing an asteroid buster (much better, John!). But all of this is a story for next week...

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British solvers have recorded a unique hat trick of victories by taking the gold medals at the World Chess Problem Solving Championship. The competition was held at the 50th World Congress for Chess Compositions in Rhodes and the British team was supported by Winton Capital Management whose assistance ensured the participation of our leading trio of solvers.

John Nunn’s magnificent individual performance was the foundation of the victory and his score of 89/90 secured his second individual world solving title ahead of a galaxy of former world champion solvers. Nunn’s team mates were David Friedgood and Jonathan Mestel and the team total of 163/180 was comfortably ahead of Russia on 158.5 and Germany on 158.

In chess problem solving, points are scored for the accuracy and completeness of the solutions which are hand written and submitted to the judges. The competition comprised six rounds and in each round the team’s score was the total of the best two performers. Each round presented the solvers with a different task. There were; mates in 2 moves, mates in 3 moves, mates in more than 3 moves, Endgame Studies, Helpmates; where both sides cooperate to ensure Black is mated, and Selfmates; where White forces Black to mate him.

• Read the full Telegraph article here