WFCC Statutes

Statutes of the

World Federation for Chess Composition

Accepted in Hersonissos, Crete, Greece on October 19th 2010
Amended in Jesi, Italy on August 23rd 2011
Further amended in Berne, Switzerland on August 24th 2014 and in Vilnius, Lithuania on August 17th 2019

Table of Contents

  1. 1 Name and Legal Status
  2. 2 Goal
  3. 3 Principal Activities
  4. 4 Relations to other bodies
  5. 5 Domicile
  6. 6 Membership
    1. 6.1 Country members
      1. 6.1.1 Eligible organisations
      2. 6.1.2 Admission and expulsion
    2. 6.2 Individual members
    3. 6.3 Representatives
  7. 7 Organisation
  8. 8 WFCC Meeting
    1. 8.1 Ordinary Meeting
      1. 8.1.1 Duties and Responsibilities
      2. 8.1.2 Invitation
      3. 8.1.3 Agenda
      4. 8.1.4 Quorum
      5. 8.1.5 Voting Rights
      6. 8.1.6 Proposals
      7. 8.1.7 Formal regulations
    2. 8.2 Extraordinary Meeting
  9. 9 Presidium
    1. 9.1 Presidium members
    2. 9.2 Election and Period of office
    3. 9.3 Duties and responsibilities
    4. 9.4 President
    5. 9.5 Vice-Presidents
    6. 9.6 Treasurer
  10. 10 Other officers
    1. 10.1 Secretary
    2. 10.2 Auditor and Reserve Auditor
      1. 10.2.1 Duties
      2. 10.2.2 Election and Period of Office
  11. 11 Committees
    1. 11.1 Standing Committees
  12. 12 Financial Regulations
    1. 12.1 Principles
    2. 12.2 Documents
    3. 12.3 Agenda Items
    4. 12.4 Liabilities
    5. 12.5 Dissolution
  13. 13 Concluding clauses
  14. Annex I: List of current country members
  15. Annex II: Detailed rules for the admission and expulsion of Member Countries
  16. Annex III: Attribution of titles
    1. Attributed titles
    2. Rules for the attribution of titles
      1. Composing titles
      2. Judging titles
      3. Solvers’ rating and titles
      4. Solving norms
      5. Solving titles
      6. Honorary Master of Chess Composition
  17. Annex IV: Procedure for Presidium elections
  18. Annex V: Verification of representatives’ right to represent their country member

1 Name and Legal Status

World Federation for Chess Composition

hereafter called “WFCC” is an association in accordance with art. 60 ff of the Swiss Civil Code.

2 Goal

The goal of the WFCC’s existence and work is the dissemination and encouragement of chess composition throughout the world.

The WFCC is a non-profit organisation.

3 Principal Activities

The principal activities of the WFCC are derived from its goal; they include

  • the formulation of rules and guidelines in all domains of chess composition
  • the arrangement of official international composing and solving competitions
  • the initiation of the publication of collections of chess compositions of general interest
  • the awarding of titles to particularly deserving persons active in chess composition, including solvers and judges

4 Relations to other bodies

The WFCC aspires to establish and maintain friendly relations with other bodies that have an interest in the same goal.

In particular, the WFCC strives for a defined and friendly relationship with the World Chess Federation (FIDE). It considers itself FIDE’s natural partner for all matters related to chess composition.[1]

5 Domicile

The domicile of the WFCC is Berne, Switzerland.

6 Membership

6.1 Country members

6.1.1 Eligible organisations

An organisation deemed by the WFCC to represent the residents of a country interested in chess composition (or a majority thereof) can be a country member of the WFCC.[2]

There can be at most one country member per country.

6.1.2 Admission and expulsion

The WFCC Meeting decides with a two-thirds majority on applications for admission submitted by an eligible organisation. It may also decide, by the same majority, that a country member shall be expelled.

Annex I contains the list of current WFCC country members.

The more detailed conditions of admission and expulsion are laid down in Annex II.

6.2 Individual members

The WFCC Meeting can appoint deserved delegates to honorary membership for life, and deserved presidents to honorary presidency for life, upon their retirement.

6.3 Representatives

WFCC members are represented in the WFCC Meeting as follows:

  • Country members are represented by a delegate appointed by the country member; should the delegate be unable to attend an WFCC Meeting, he or the country member that appointed him is entitled to nominate a temporary deputy.[3] Both delegates and deputies must be citizens of or habitually resident in the country that they represent. No one person may simultaneously represent more than one country member.
  • Individual members represent themselves[4]

7 Organisation

The WFCC’s organs are:

  • WFCC Meeting (meeting of the representatives)[5]
  • Presidium
  • Auditor
  • Committees

8 WFCC Meeting

8.1 Ordinary Meeting

The WFCC representatives ordinarily meet once a year. If no organiser for the Ordinary meeting can be found among the member countries, the Presidium shall organise it as they see fit.

The WFCC Meeting shall permit the discussion and consideration of the items of the Agenda, along with the passing of resolutions.

The WFCC Meeting shall be chaired by a member of the Presidium, normally the President. Discussions where a particular Presidium member is involved personally[6] or officially[7] shall not be chaired by that Presidium member.

Discussions during WFCC Meetings shall be chaired to be short and focused to the matter. If the nature and scope of a matter demand it[8], the WFCC Meeting shall appoint a Committee to deal with the matter outside the sessions.[9]

8.1.1 Duties and Responsibilities

The WFCC Meeting has the following non-transferable duties:

  • Verification of delegates’ and deputies’ right to represent their country member[10]
  • Verification of attendance and voting-rights
  • Election of the President, the other Presidium members and the Auditors
  • Admission and expulsion of members
  • Acceptance of the minutes of previous meetings
  • Items listed in section 12, in particular acceptance of the financial report for the previous business year
  • Granting of titles
  • Decisions about proposals by members
  • Announcement of candidate venues for the subsequent meeting
  • Decisions regarding modifications to the Statutes
  • Decisions regarding the dissolution of the WFCC
  • Decisions regarding all matters that are not reserved to other organs
  • Establishment of Committees and election of Committee members
  • Decisions regarding the collection of membership fees and other fees

8.1.2 Invitation

The representatives shall be invited to an Ordinary meeting in sufficient time to allow them to make the necessary arrangements for travel and accommodation.

8.1.3 Agenda

An Agenda shall be drawn up for every Ordinary meeting and shall be communicated to all representatives at least three (3) weeks before the start of the meeting.

8.1.4 Quorum

A quorum at any meeting shall consist of at least one-third (1/3) of the member-countries.

8.1.5 Voting Rights

Each represented country member has one vote in elections and voting.[11] [12]

Majorities are calculated based on the number of country members represented at the respective vote or election.

Unless otherwise specified, WFCC decisions require a straight majority.

The following decisions need a two-thirds (2/3) majority:

  • admission and expulsion of members
  • modifications to the Statutes[13]
  • dissolution of the WFCC

8.1.6 Proposals

Member countries can make proposals to be dealt with at an Ordinary meeting. These proposals shall reach the Presidium at least six (6) weeks before the meeting.

During a meeting, representatives can make proposals based on the discussions and decisions at the meeting. Before dealing with the proposed matter of such a proposal, the WFCC Meeting first decides whether to deal with the proposal at all.

8.1.7 Formal regulations

All spoken contributions at the WFCC Meeting are made in or simultaneously translated[14] into English and Russian. As far as possible, other simultaneous translations shall be provided to enable all representatives to follow the discussion.

The Invitation, Agenda, Financial Report, Balance sheet, Budget, Proposals, Committee reports and other information of importance to the WFCC Meeting shall be delivered to the representatives in written English form[15]; as far as possible, translations shall be provided so that all representatives can understand them.

Documents for which there is no defined deadline shall be delivered at a time that allows the representatives to study them before they are dealt with in the sessions.

Unless otherwise specified, the WFCC Meeting is held in public. At the request of a delegate or deputy, the WFCC Meeting may decide to exclude the public from (the remainder of) a session; at such closed sessions, only the delegates, deputies, individual members and the Secretary may be present.

Unless otherwise specified, decisions at the WFCC Meeting are taken by a count of hands executed by the Secretary. However, a single delegate or deputy can demand a secret vote for a specific decision.

Unless otherwise specified, Committee sessions are open to the representatives.

8.2 Extraordinary Meeting

In case of an emergency, the Presidium may call an Extraordinary meeting to secure the WFCC’s ongoing activities until the next Ordinary meeting.

Extraordinary meetings shall be held according to the regulations for Ordinary meetings, except for deadlines, which may be adjusted by the Presidium according to the urgency of the matter.

All decisions taken at an Extraordinary meeting are subject to confirmation at the following Ordinary meeting.

Decisions on the following items may only be taken at Ordinary meetings:

  • Presidium elections
  • Agenda items listed in section 12
  • the admission and expulsion of members
  • the dissolution of the WFCC

9 Presidium

9.1 Presidium members

The members of the Presidium are:

  • the President
  • the first, second and third Vice-Presidents

The Presidium decides on which Vice-President assumes the office of Treasurer.

9.2 Election and Period of office

The Presidium is elected for a period of four (4) years.[16]

The procedure for the election of the Presidium is detailed in Annex IV.

The newly elected Presidium starts its work after the end of the WFCC Meeting during which the election took place.

9.3 Duties and responsibilities

The Presidium’s duties and responsibilities are:

  • preparing the meetings
  • setting up and distributing the Agenda
  • inviting the members
  • chairing the WFCC Meetings
  • putting into effect the decisions of the WFCC Meeting
  • overseeing the WFCC’s activities throughout the year
  • duties listed in section 12
  • maintaining contact with organisations that the WFCC is in relation with
  • appointing persons authorised to sign on behalf of the WFCC
  • other business according to WFCC decisions

Presidium Meetings are closed to the public. The Presidium may invite the Secretary and Honorary Presidents to attend its meetings.

9.4 President

The President organises the work of the Presidium in order for it to fulfil its duties.

9.5 Vice-Presidents

The first Vice-Presidents assumes the duties of the President should the President be unable to fulfil them. The second and third Vice-President assume these duties should the first/second Vice-President be unable as well.

9.6 Treasurer

The Treasurer handles the Presidium’s duties listed in section 12.

10 Other officers

10.1 Secretary

The Secretary is appointed by the Presidium. He must not be a delegate, deputy or individual member.

He attends the WFCC Meetings and prepares and distributes the minutes. He may be assigned other administrative duties by the Presidium.

10.2 Auditor and Reserve Auditor

10.2.1 Duties

The Auditor’s duties are listed in section 12.

The Reserve Auditor fulfils the Auditor’s responsibilities should the Auditor be unable to fulfil them.

10.2.2 Election and Period of Office

The Auditor and Reserve Auditor are delegates, but not members of the Presidium.

The Auditor and Reserve Auditor are elected by the WFCC Meeting for a period of one (1) business year in a regular session.[17]

11 Committees

A Committee normally consists of two to five (2-5) persons.

A Committee reports to the WFCC Meeting to give it a basis for decisions. The report includes:

  • the important facts relevant for the clarification of the decisions
  • the possible options
  • the arguments in favour and against each option
  • the Committee’s opinion

Each Committee shall appoint a Spokesman from among its members. The Spokesman delivers an oral report to the WFCC Meeting.

11.1 Standing Committees

For fields of work that require lengthy preparation and activity above and beyond WFCC Meetings, the WFCC is empowered to appoint Standing Committees. In addition to giving the WFCC a basis for decisions within its field of work, Standing Committees regularly inform the WFCC about the work accomplished in the field throughout the year and the current status of the work.

12 Financial Regulations

12.1 Principles

The WFCC Meeting defines a business year.[18]

The WFCC’s financial means are collected and allocated by the Presidium according to the Budget for the business year accepted by the WFCC Meeting.

At each Ordinary Meeting, the Presidium informs the WFCC Meeting about the financial situation as follows:

  • Financial Report: actual financial movements in the previous business year
  • Balance Sheet: financial situation (assets and liabilities) as per the end of the previous business year

Before their discussion and acceptance by the WFCC Meeting, the Financial Report and Balance Sheet are reviewed by the Auditor. In his report to the WFCC Meeting, he states:

  • whether he deems the two documents to be correct and complete
  • whether he proposes to the WFCC to discharge the Presidium from financial liabilities resulting from the activities in the previous business year

Based on the Auditor’s report, the WFCC Meeting decides whether to discharge the Presidium from financial liabilities.

The Presidium then presents a Draft Budget for the following business year to be discussed and accepted by the WFCC Meeting.

12.2 Documents

The Presidium shall provide the representatives with the following documents along with the Agenda for Ordinary meetings:

  • Financial Report for the previous business year
  • Budget for the previous business year[19]
  • Balance Sheet as per the end of the previous business year
  • Draft Budget for the following business year

12.3 Agenda Items

The following items are mandatory in the agenda of each Ordinary meeting:

  • Presentation of the Financial Report
  • Balance Sheet
  • Auditor’s Report
  • Acceptance of the Financial Report and the Balance Sheet
  • Discharge of the Presidium from financial liabilities
  • Budget

12.4 Liabilities

The liabilities of the WFCC are limited to its assets.

12.5 Dissolution

In case of the dissolution of the WFCC the assets have to go to a foundation or association with a similar goal, domiciled in Switzerland and exempt from taxes.

13 Concluding clauses

These Statutes came into force on October 19th 2010 in Hersonissos, Crete, Greece.

They are published in German and have in this form sole validity in cases of dispute.

Annex I: List of current country members

Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Finland, France, Great Britain, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States (42 country members).

Annex II: Detailed rules for the admission and expulsion of Member Countries

1. Visible activity in the composing and solving of chess problems or studies must exist in a country applying for admission to the WFCC.

2. The application must be addressed in writing by the organisation applying for admission to the President of the WFCC. It must be accompanied by the undertaking that the country in question will actively participate in the goal and principal activities of the WFCC.

3. The delegate nominated by the organisation must orally present the application at an Ordinary Meeting of the WFCC. Only then may a decision on the application be reached.

4. If a Country Member is entirely absent from three successive ordinary meetings of the WFCC, the latter is entitled to decide, in an Ordinary Session, to expel the Country Member. The Country Member in question must first have the opportunity to make written representations on the matter. Provided that the due conditions are fulfilled, a resumption of representation at a later Ordinary Meeting is permissible.

5. Country Members committing acts which run counter to the Statutes of the WFCC or its resolutions and decisions or not fulfilling other duties according to WFCC decisions may be temporarily or definitely excluded from the WFCC by a decision at an Ordinary Meeting of the WFCC, on the proposal of the Presidium.

6. When a Country Member is admitted or expelled, the list in Annex I must be amended by decision of the WFCC.

Annex III: Attribution of titles

Attributed titles

The WFCC awards, in conjunction with the FIDE, for life the titles of:

a.   Grandmaster of the FIDE for Chess Compositions

b.   International Master of the FIDE for Chess Compositions

c.   FIDE Master for Chess Compositions

d.   International Judge of the FIDE for Chess Compositions

e.   FIDE Solving Judge

f.    International Solving Grandmaster of the FIDE

g.   International Solving Master of the FIDE

h.   FIDE Solving Master

i.   Honorary Master of Chess Composition

Rules for the attribution of titles

Composing titles

a) “Grandmaster of the FIDE for Chess Compositions”

A problem Composer must have at least 70 problems in the Albums. For a study composer the corresponding minimum number of studies required in Albums is 42.

b) “International Master of the FIDE for Chess Compositions”

A problem composer must have at least 25 problems in the Albums. For a study composer the corresponding minimum number of studies required in Albums is 15.

c) “FIDE Master for Chess Compositions”

A problem composer must have at least 12 problems in the Albums. For a study composer the corresponding minimum number of studies required in Albums is 8.

In counting the points for the mentioned master titles, the value of a joint composition will be divided by the number of composers collaborating. If a composer competes with problems as well as studies then one study = 1 and 2/3 problems.

Judging titles

d) “International Judge of the FIDE for Chess Compositions”

Only national chess federations, national associations for chess compositions as well as the members of the WFCC have the right to propose a member of their chess federation as a candidate for the title “International Judge”.

The standing Qualifications Committee examines the proposal in the WFCC. The candidate has to fulfil the following qualifications:

i) First application for the title International Judge in one section: 6 awards among them at least 4 awards in the section applied for and among them two published abroad are needed.

ii) First application for the title International Judge in more than one section: 4 awards (among them two published abroad) in one section which must be signified as first section and 3 awards in each other section are needed. (This means that a candidate for 2 sections must present at least 7 awards and for 3 sections at least 10 awards).

iii) Application for extension of the previously granted titles to other sections: 3 awards in each of those sections.

All awards mentioned above should be of international composing tourneys.

The sections to apply for are: 2#, 3#, n#, s#, h#, fairies, endgames, retros and mathematics.

All applications must be in written form. They should be addressed to the Spokesman of the Qualifications Committee or to the President and must be signed by the Chess federation, the national association for chess compositions or the delegate of the applying country. [forms for applications, pdf-file, 71 kb]

e) “FIDE Solving Judge”

A candidate must have conducted at least 6 rated solving tournaments (among them at least 3 which fulfilled the requirements for norms except the exclusion of tournaments in multiple locations) in a satisfactory way in terms of selection of the problems, efficient and accurate marking, prompt announcement of the results, etc. In applying for the title, all relevant documents (problems with full solutions and attribution of points, table of results) should be submitted with the possible exception of very old tournaments. The applications should be submitted to the Spokesman of the Solving Committee or to the President only by delegates. The Solving Committee shall review the applications and forward their suggestions to the Qualifications Committee.  [form for applications: Word file (doc) for download]

Solvers’ rating and titles

A rating is a numerical value which a solver gains by solving in two approved tournaments.

A rating can be gained at the WCSC/ECSC, WCCC/ECSC-Open, or other tournaments which fulfil definite criteria.

The rating list is published four times a year. It is calculated on the basis of the results of solving tournaments completed (including the report) by the end of March, June, September and December.

The Solving Tournament Manager (STM) software is used for the issue of the quarterly rating lists.

Solving norms

Norms for the titles International Solving Grandmaster (GM), International Solving Master (IM), FIDE Solving Master (FM) can be gained in a tournament if at least 5 solvers with current rating of 2550 / 2450 / 2350 respectively participate in it.

Norms cannot be gained at tournaments which take place in multiple locations.

A solver obtains a GM / IM / FM norm when he/she achieves a performance rating of at least 2650 / 2550 / 2450. The solver must be placed within the number of solvers with the qualifying rating of 2550 / 2450 / 2350 (i.e. at least sixth place when there are 6 solvers with the qualifying rating of 2550 / 2450 / 2350).

Solving titles

f) International Solving Grandmaster of the FIDE: A solver must gain a norm 3 times (at least once in the WCSC or ECSC) and achieve a rating of 2550.

g) International Solving Master of the FIDE: A solver must gain a norm twice and achieve a rating of 2450.

h) FIDE Solving Master: A solver must gain a norm twice and achieve a rating of 2350.

Honorary title

i) Honorary Master of Chess Composition

This title can be granted to problemists aged more than 70 years, having great merits in problem chess, who did not succeed in getting one of the master titles mentioned above

Annex IV: Procedure for Presidium elections

1. Elections to the Presidium shall be held at every fourth Ordinary Meeting of the WFCC. Voting shall take place for all four posts in the same year. However, if a Presidium post falls permanently vacant during the term of office, a special election may be held for the relevant post, if the WFCC deems this appropriate, but the candidate elected shall serve only for the remainder of the original four-year period.

2. In an election year, a special meeting of the WFCC shall be arranged for the purpose of voting, not later than the penultimate day of the Congress, and at no later than 21.00 on that day.

3. At the opening session of the WFCC in an election year, the President shall nominate a working party of three persons from different countries to supervise the elections. One of the three should normally be the Secretary. No current delegate or deputy may be a member of this working party.

4. A delegate wishing to stand for election to the Presidium shall give his name on paper to the working party by 22.00 on the day before the elections are to be held. The paper must show clearly the post or posts for which the delegate wishes to stand.

5. The working party shall display a list of the candidates for each post by 9.00 on the day of the elections. No additions shall then be made to this list, except as provided for in paragraph 7 below. Withdrawals, however, will be permitted.

6. The election shall be held in a closed session of the WFCC. One member of the working party (not the Secretary) shall take the chair. Each post shall be dealt with separately, starting with the President and continuing through the Vice-Presidents in order. The chairman shall read out the names of the candidates for the Presidency. At this point each of these candidates may, if he so wishes, address the WFCC for a maximum of 10 minutes. Afterwards there can be a discussion. The chairman shall then invite delegates to record in secret their vote for one of these candidates, on paper provided for the purpose. Any candidate obtaining a majority of the votes cast shall be declared elected. Otherwise delegates will vote again between the two candidates gaining the most votes in the first round. In the event of a tie in the second round, the chairman shall call a recess of not more than 10 minutes, after which the vote shall be taken again. If the result is again a tie, the chairman shall determine the outcome by selecting one of two folded slips of paper each bearing the name of one candidate.

7. Any candidate defeated in the vote for the Presidency may now declare his candidature for any or all of the posts of Vice-President, if he has not already done so. The chairman shall read out the names of candidates for the post of 1 st Vice-President. Any candidate may address the WFCC for not more than 10 minutes, provided he has not already spoken.

8. In the event of a tie, the same procedure shall be adopted as for the Presidency.

9. The posts of 2nd and 3rd Vice-President shall be dealt with in exactly the same way, with previously defeated candidates being entitled to stand, and candidates having the same right to address the WFCC for a maximum of 10 minutes.

10. All the voting shall take place within the same session.

11. The duties of the working party shall cease as soon as the new Presidium has been elected in its entirety.

Annex V: Verification of representatives’ right to represent their country member

Upon his first appearance in the WFCC Meeting, a delegate must provide an official document issued by the country member that he represents.

Upon each appearance in the WFCC Meeting, a deputy must provide a written document from the delegate or country member that nominated him.

[1] The WFCC is the successor in interest of the Permanent Commission for Chess Composition (PCCC).

[2] Normally, this is either (one of) the country’s chess federation(s) or (one of) the country’s chess composition organisation(s).

[3] The verfication of a delegate’s or deputy’s right to represent their member country is detailed in Annex V.

[4] Individual members can at them same time be delegates or deputies. Individual members are not entitled to nominate a deputy for their individual membership.

[5] The WFCC Meeting is the General Assembly of the WFCC.

[6] e.g. as author of the respective proposal or as delegate of a country member directly concerned by the decision

[7] e.g. as Spokesman of a Committee

[8] I.e. if the facts to be gathered or the opinions to be listened to exceed the time frame of WFCC sessions.

[9] cf. 11

[10] detailed in Annex V

[11] The President’s vote counts equal to that of the other members.

[12] Individual members have no voting right in votings and elections.

[13] including the Annexes

[14] by bilingual delegates or designated interpreters

[15] A document is assumed to be have been delivered in written form if it was sent to the recipient by E-Mail and the recipient has confirmed its reception by letter or E-Mail.

[16] There is no rule against re-election of Presidium members for another period.

[17] There is no rule against re-election of the Auditor and Reserve Auditor for another period.

[18] e.g. July 1st to June 30th

[19] for comparison with the Financial Report

Statutes (PDF, 127K) | Forms for international judge applications (PDF, 26K)

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