Category: ISC

ISC 2026 Final Results

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ISC 2026 will be remembered as a historic edition of the contest. With 952 participants, this year set a new all-time record in the history of ISC.
The event was held in 59 tournaments across 26 countries, bringing together 162 solvers in Category 1, 346 in Category 2, and 443 in Category 3. Such participation clearly demonstrates the continued growth of solving worldwide and the increasing engagement of new and young solvers.
It is inspiring to see our community expanding year by year, uniting experienced masters and beginners alike in the same global event.
Thank you to all Local Controllers for your dedication, precision and cooperation. Congratulations to the winners and prize-winners in all three categories for their excellent performances.
Arvydas Mockus, Central Controller of ISC 2026.

Problems CAT1 – CAT2 – CAT3 | Solutions CAT1 – CAT2 – CAT3 | Results CAT1 – CAT2 – CAT3
22.ISC PRESENTATION (page) | General ISC page

GER-Münster ISC 2026
Greece Patras ISC 2026
Japan Tokyo ISC 2026
Slovenia Ljubljana ISC 2026
Slovakia Bratislava ISC 2026
Serbia Belgrade ISC 2026
Russia St-Petersburg ISC 2026
Russia Moscow ISC 2026
Poland Cracow ISC 2026
Netherlands-Schiedam ISC 2026
Nepal Kathmandu2 ISC 2026
Moldova Kishinev ISC 2026
Lithuania Vilnius ISC 2026
Latvia Riga ISC 2026
India Kolkata ISC 2026
India Chennai ISC 2026
India Delhi ISC 2026
Brasil Rio de Janeiro ISC 2026
India Bangalore ISC 2026
India Mumbai ISC 2026
Russia Tula ISC 2026
Croatia Zagreb ISC 2026
Romania Timisoara ISC 2026
Romania Bucharest ISC 2026

*Note regarding the result of Nika Riabenko
Following the post-event verification process, the result of Nika Riabenko was temporarily withheld and the case was referred to the Appeals Commission. After reviewing the available materials, the Appeals Commission decided that the result should be excluded from the official ranking and recorded as unofficial, and the final standings reflect this decision.

Invitation to the 22nd  ISC

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The International Solving Contest next year will take place on Sunday 25.01.2026. The event is happening simultaneously in all participating countries.
There will be three categories: one for experienced solvers. The second category is intended for weaker, inexperienced solvers. This second category is not open for solvers with a rating (or half-rating or non-active-rating) of more than 2000. The third category is intended for youngsters born after 31.12.2012.

According to the WFCC sanctions only tournaments in category-3 are possible in Russia/Belarus. According to the decision at the WCCC in Jūrmala no cash prizes are permitted in participating countries.

Separate results are recorded for youth, females and seniors. For Categories 1 and 2 the results of solvers will be rated. However for all solvers no norms for titles are possible.

The name of the locally appointed controller must reach the central controller by email not later than 31.12.2025: arvydas.mockus@gmail.com

Announcement of 22nd ISC | Rules of ISC

Thank you for your cooperation,
Arvydas Mockus
Central controller of ISC 2026

Changes in the ISC 2025 Final Results and the Solvers’ Rating List

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Following protests submitted by six countries and the evidence from reports (Points 9.1 to 9.5 in WCCC 2025 Agenda), WFCC Assembly voted to exclude results of the four Category 1 solvers from Sumgait (Azerbaijan). Consequently, the rating lists for April and July 2025 have been slightly changed. Here are the final results of ISC 2025 as approved by the WCCC 2025:

Results Report & Summaries – CAT 1 (180 solvers) – CAT 2 (254 solvers) – CAT 3 (292 solvers)
Problems CAT 1 – CAT 2 – CAT 3 | Solutions CAT 1 – CAT 2 – CAT 3

“We had 46 tournaments in 28 countries and 741 solvers (15 unofficial solvers in cat-3) – 180 solvers in cat-1, 254 solvers in cat-2 and 292 solvers in cat-3. This year’s participation reflects the growing interest and enthusiasm for the sport, and it is heartening to see such a diverse and passionate community of solvers from all around the world. Thank you to all local controllers for their excellent work and good cooperation and congratulations to the winners.
Special thanks to Borislav Gadjanski for his daily updates of the results on the MatPlus-website , as well as to others who supported and helped me during this event.”

Arvydas Mockus, Central Controller of ISC 2025

21. ISC Results

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“We had 46 tournaments in 28 countries and 745 solvers (15 unofficial solvers in cat-3) – 184 solvers in cat-1, 254 solvers in cat-2 and 292 solvers in cat-3. This year’s participation reflects the growing interest and enthusiasm for the sport, and it is heartening to see such a diverse and passionate community of solvers from all around the world. Thank you to all local controllers for their excellent work and good cooperation and congratulations to the winners.
Special thanks to Borislav Gadjanski for his daily updates of the results on the MatPlus-website , as well as to others who supported and helped me during this event.”

Arvydas Mockus, Central Controller of ISC 2025

Note: The Central Controller did not accept four results of the Category 1. However these results have been accepted by the Solving Committee.

Appeals and protests can be sent until February 24, 2025 to the Central Controller (arvydas.mockus@gmail.com) and to the Solving Commitee (wfcc-solving-committee@googlegroups.com). The final presentation of the 21th ISC results will be published later.

Invitation to the 21st  ISC

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The International Solving Contest next year will take place on Sunday 19.01.2025. The event is happening simultaneously in all participating countries.

There will be three categories: one for experienced solvers. The second category is intended for weaker, inexperienced solvers. This second category is not open for solvers with a rating (or half-rating or non-active-rating) of more than 2000.
The third category is intended for youngsters born after 31.12.2011.

According the WFCC sanctions against Russia and Belarus because of the war in Ukraine only tournaments in category-3 are possible in Russia/Belarus.
According to the decision at the WCCC in Jūrmala, no cash prizes are permitted for all participating countries.

Separate results are recorded for youth, females and seniors. For Categories 1 and 2 the results of solvers will be rated. However for all solvers no norms for titles are possible.

The name of the locally appointed controller must reach the central controller by e-mail not later than 31.12.2024.

Announcement of 21st ISC | Rules of ISC

Thank you for your cooperation,
Arvydas Mockus
Central controller of ISC 2025

ISC 2024 – FINAL results

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20th International Solving Contest (ISC) 21th January 2024

We had 41 tournaments in 26 countries and 669 solvers from 46 countries (24 unofficial solvers in cat-3) – 171 solvers in cat-1, 236 solvers in cat-2 and 262 solvers in cat-3. Thanks to all local controllers for their excellent work and good cooperation and congratulations to the winners.
Special thanks to Borislav Gadjanski for his daily updates of the results on the MatPlus-website, to Luc Palmans who checked  Cat1, to Andy Ooms who checked  Cat2, Bohumil Moravčik who helped a lot with the selection of the problems.

Arvydas Mockus, Central Controller of ISC 2024.

Problems CAT1 – CAT2 – CAT3 | Solutions CAT1 – CAT2 – CAT3 | Results CAT1 – CAT2 – CAT3

PRESENTATION of ISC results

The 20 years of ISC (2005-2024)

The idea to organize the International Solving Contest, simultaneously in many countries, came from Uri Avner in the year 2003. After a period of preparation the 1st ISC was held in January 2005. The winner was Roland Baier (SUI) and Ward Stoffelen was the Central controller. With 27 tournaments in 23 countries and 262 solvers it was already the greatest solving tournament in history.

After the success of the first edition, it was decided that the next tournament in 2006 should be rated, and that a second category for less experienced solvers should be included. In the following years ISC became a standard in the second half of January and the number of participants grew until more than 400.

In 2015 a third category for kids under the age of 13 was established. The record number of participants was reached in 2020, with 885 solvers in 31 countries. Later on, the regularity of ISC wasn’t interrupted even during the Covid crisis. The ISC became an opportunity for many solvers around the world to compete and get initial ratings. Also, nearly all top solvers have been using this tournament to test their skills. The record holder is Piotr Murdzia (POL) with six wins in the 1st Category competition.

Axel Steinbrink,
Central controller of 14 ISC tournaments

Invitation to the 20th  ISC

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The International Solving Contest next year will take place on Sunday 21.01.2024. The event is happening simultaneously in all participating countries.
There will be three categories: one for experienced solvers. The second category is intended for weaker, inexperienced solvers. This second category is not open for solvers with a rating (or half-rating or non-active-rating) of more than 2000. The third category is intended for youngsters born after 31.12.2010.

The name of the locally appointed controller must reach the central controllers by email not later than 31.12.2023: arvydas.mockus@gmail.com / palmans.luc@skynet.be

Announcement of 20th ISC | Rules of ISC

Arvydas Mockus, 20th ISC Controller

65th WCCC – Highlights and Decisions

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-> See more about highlights & decisions

31 member countries were present, 4 of them via Zoom connection. Armenia was welcomed as the 44th member country of the Federation.

Upcoming events 2024:

20th International Solving Contest (ISC) on 21 January 2024, central organizers Luc Palmans and Arvydas Mockus.

17th European Chess Solving Championship (ECSC) in Hagen, Germany 19-21 April 2024.

66th World Congress of Chess Composition (WCCC) and 47th World Chess Solving Championship (WCSC): the deadline for bids extended till October 15, decision postponed for the WFCC online Meeting.

ISC 2023 – FINAL results

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19th International Solving Contest (ISC) 29th January 2023

We had 38 tournaments in 26 countries and 601 solvers (+15 unofficial solvers in cat-3) – 181 solvers in cat-1, 172 solvers in cat-2 and 248 solvers in cat-3. Thank you to all local controllers for their excellent work and good cooperation and congratulations to the winners. If you find any mistakes in the tables (e.g. wrong written names, wrong gender, …) please let me know. I will correct such mistakes.
Special thanks to Borislav Gadjanski for his daily updates of the results on the MatPlus-website, to Miodrag Mladenovic who entered all results from those local controllers who did not use STM for this and also to Luc Palmans and Ivan Denkovski who helped a lot with the selection of the problems. – Axel Steinbrink, Central Controller of ISC 2023

ISC 2023 Winners | Category 1 (181 solver) | Category 2 (172 solvers) | Category 3 (248 solvers)
Problems CAT1 – CAT2 – CAT3 | Solutions CAT1 – CAT2 – CAT3

See the ISC 2023 presentation and all previous ISC competitions in the section: Competitions -> Solving -> International Solving Contest