The qualification phases of the 1st WFCC Fujairah Solving Grand Prix cycle 2025–26 have been concluded, and the most successful solvers will now prepare for the Grand Final, to be held from 27 to 30 November 2026 at the new and luxurious home of the Fujairah Chess & Culture Club.
Among the 41 solvers who earned Grand Prix Points, 18 participants from 15 different countries have qualified to compete in the Final: the Top 12 from the Final Standings, together with the six best representatives of countries not represented among the Top 12. The general concept of the Grand Prix Final — presenting a truly multinational stage — will be continued through invitations to finalists from additional countries, as well as to chess composers from around the world, who are invited to challenge the finalists with their original entries and compete for rewards from the best solvers. The announcement for composers will be published soon.
Top 12 solvers
| No. | Solver | Country | Grand Prix Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piotr Murdzia | POL | 87 |
| 2 | Danila Pavlov | FID | 87 |
| 3 | Kacper Piorun | POL | 72 |
| 4 | Arno Zude | GER | 72 |
| 5 | Ural Khasanov | FID | 67 |
| 6 | Eddy Van Beers | BEL | 60 |
| 7 | Martynas Limontas | LTU | 58 |
| 8 | Mihnea Costachi | ROU | 54 |
| 9 | Bilguun Sumiya | MGL | 50 |
| 10 | Maksim Kharitonov | FID | 35 |
| 11 | Nikos Sidiropoulos | GRE | 33 |
| 12 | Tomáš Peitl | SVK | 29 |
Top six solvers from non-presented countries
| No. | Solver | Country | Grand Prix Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | David Hodge | GBR | 18 |
| 14 | Ilija Serafimović | SRB | 17 |
| 15 | Oleksiy Solovchuk | UKR | 14 |
| 16 | Ofer Comay | ISR | 4 |
| 17 | Jorma Paavilainen | FIN | 2 |
| 18 | Joost Michielsen | NED | 1 |
The Registration of the Qualified Finalists is now open on the WFCC Fujairah Grand Prix website and will remain open until 1 October. After this date, any necessary replacements will be made from the list of Official Reserves, or, as a final measure, nominated by the Organizing Committee. Further information about the Grand Prix Final, including the Distribution of Prizes and the Tournament Format and Rating, can be found in the detailed Grand Prix Final Regulations.
The WFCC Fujairah Grand Prix 2025–26 has marked the greatest-ever investment in PCCC/WFCC activities. With 128 monetary prizes distributed to solvers over the two-year cycle, totalling €71,000, financial support of €10,000 for the WCCC & ECSC organizers, €10,000 for WFCC Development Projects, €3,000 in prizes for composers, and hotel expenses covered for the Grand Prix Finalists, the UAE contribution to the WFCC has exceeded €100,000 in 2025 and 2026.
The WFCC remains deeply grateful to the 1st Vice President Abdulla Ali Aaal Barket and the WFCC Secretary Mohammad Alhallak for this historic milestone. Through the initiative and patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, new possibilities for the development and advancement of chess composition worldwide have been created.
Marjan Kovačević
WFCC President