25 January: The International Solving Contest Comes to Nine Indian Cities!

by Satanick Mukhuty - 14/01/2026

The International Solving Contest 2026 is a global celebration of chess thinking, bringing together problem lovers for a simultaneous test of logic, precision, and imagination. Held under uniform international rules, the contest presents identical challenges to participants across the world. This year marks a milestone for India, with the ISC being hosted in a record ten venues across nine cities. Open to solvers of all levels, the event offers a rare opportunity to experience chess in its purest intellectual form. Whether you come to compete, to learn, or simply to enjoy the beauty of ideas, the ISC promises a rewarding and memorable solving experience. Details follow.

Nine Cities. One Contest. India Solves Together!

A chess-solving contest is a celebration of thought rather than reflex: no opponent sits across the board, and though the clock quietly measures time, it is ideas, not reflexes, that decide the outcome. Solvers are presented with composed positions and invited to uncover their hidden truths, including forced mates, subtle defences, and precise manoeuvres, using logic, patience, and imagination alone. It is chess stripped to its intellectual core, where accuracy is rewarded, beauty is revealed, and the journey of reasoning matters as much as the final answer.

If this kind of challenge speaks to you, mark your calendar for 25 January, as India hosts the International Solving Contest in ten locations across nine cities nationwide. This is your chance to test your analytical skills and imagination alongside some of the best in the business worldwide, and who knows, perhaps even walk away with some exciting prizes.

What is the International Solving Contest?

The International Solving Contest (ISC) is not merely a competition; it is an annual global rendezvous for chess problem lovers, held simultaneously across continents on a Sunday in late January. Conducted under the auspices of the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC), the ISC brings together a worldwide community of enthusiasts in a shared celebration of ingenuity, precision, and quiet calculation.

The contest’s growing stature speaks for itself. The 21st edition, held last year, attracted 741 solvers from 28 countries, a striking illustration of the ISC’s expanding international footprint. Since its inception in 2005, the event has nearly tripled in size, steadily establishing itself as the most inclusive and widely attended over-the-board solving contest in the world.

Solvers at work during last year’s International Solving Contest in Mumbai!

Basic Format and Eligibility

The event features three categories:

Category 1: Open - For experienced solvers, open to all participants.

Category 2: Less Experienced Solvers - For participants with no solvers' rating or a solvers' rating below 2000.

Category 3: Youth - For participants born after 31st December 2012 (13 years old or younger in the competition year).

Important Note 1: Category 1 is designed for highly experienced solvers. If you're relatively new to chess-solving, we recommend starting with Category 2 or 3 for a more suitable challenge.

Important Note 2: Familiarity with Algebraic Chess Notation is absolutely mandatory, as answers are to be provided in this format.

The competition will consist of two 120-minute rounds for Category 1 and 2, with six chess positions to solve each round. Category 3 will only have one round with six positions. There will be a break of at least 30 minutes between the rounds.

Indian Venues, 2026

The 2025 edition of the contest was held in four cities: Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Bhopal. In 2026, the event expands to five additional cities: Udaipur, Goa, Nashik, Kolkata, and Delhi NCR, with Delhi NCR hosting two venues.

The organisation of the contest at each venue will be overseen by the respective local coordinators. The event will begin between 10.30 am and 11.00 am at all Indian venues. The details (contact, entry fee, etc.) and registration form for each venue are provided below.

Mumbai

Local Coordinator: Aanchal Dhakar
Venue: ChessBase India Club, Atrium 5, Lower Ground Floor, Phoenix Marketcity Mall,
Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Kurla West, Mumbai - 400070
Contact: +91 9799558564
Entry fee: Rs. 200
Maximum entries: 50
Click here to fill up the google form and register.

Delhi NCR (1)

Local Coordinator: Adarsh Bhadauria
Venue: Cut Coffee Paste Cafe, Guru Dronacharya Metro Station, DLF Phase 3, Sector 26, Gurugram, Haryana, 122002
Contact: +91 9821922838
Entry fee: Rs. 200
Maximum entries: 15
Click here to fill up the google form and register.

Delhi NCR (2)

Local Coordinator: Harsh Sirohi
Venue: Cut Coffee Paste Cafe, Time Centre Building, Suncity, Golf Course Road, Sector - 54 Gurugram, Haryana 122011
Contact: +91 9999930718
Entry fee: Rs. 200
Maximum entries: 15
Click here to fill up the google form and register.

Kolkata

Local Coordinator: Satanick Mukhuty
Venue: Dhanuka Dhunseri Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy, 26/1/1 Chakraberia, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal – 700019.
Contact: +91 7908245176
Entry fee: Rs. 200
Maximum entries: 20
Click here to fill up the google form and register.

Bengaluru

Local Coordinator: IM N Shankar Ram
Venue: Silicon City Academy of Secondary Education
Kumar Nursery, New Bank Colony
Chunchaghatta Main Road
Off Kanakapura Road, Konanakunte
Bengaluru 560062
Contact: +91 9342502948 (WhatsApp or SMS only)
Entry fee: Rs. 100
Click here to see the full circular and schedule.
Click here to fill up the registration form.

Chennai

Local Coordinator: V Ravichandran
Venue: Chennai Citi Centre, Dr Radha Krishnan Salai, Loganathan Colony, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600004
Contact: +91 9444210914
Participants to register via easypaychess.com, chessfee.com, or chessentry.in

Bhopal

Local Coordinator: Niklesh Jain
Venue: Khelo Chess India Club & Activity Centre, Sage International School, Rajharsh Colony, Kolar Rd, Bhopal, Sankhedi, Madhya Pradesh 462039
Contact: +91 9993798131
Entry fee: Rs. 250
Maximum entries: 25
Click here to fill up the google form and register.

Udaipur

Local Coordinator: Gautam Kataria
Venue: Kingdom of Chess, near Srinath Hospital, Navratna Complex, Pulla Bhuwana, Mahaveer Colony Park, Udaipur.
Contact: +91 6350361672
Entry fee: Rs. 50
Maximum entries: 50
Click here to fill up the google form and register.

Goa

Local Coordinator: Pushpashil Satardekar
Venue: Centenary Chess Club, Patrong Baina Goa.
Contact: +91 9423321617
Entry fee: Rs. 250
Maximum entries: 100
Click here to fill up the google form and register.

Nashik

Local Coordinator: Onkar Jadhav
Venue: Genius Chess Academy, Canada Corner, Nashik 422005
Contact: +91 9272103185
Entry fee: Free
Maximum entries: 25
To register, participants must contact the local coordinator.

Important: For all registration-related queries, participants are requested to contact only the local coordinator of their respective venue. The organisation and conduct of the contest at each venue are the responsibility of the local coordinator.

Prizes

The top three winners in each of the three categories at each venue, provided they score 50% or more, will receive premium ChessBase products as prizes: ChessBase 26, Fritz 20, and a one-year ChessBase Premium Account. In addition, the local coordinators at individual venues may choose to award additional prizes, trophies, or certificates at their discretion.

Categories 1 and 2 are rated, allowing participants to receive a global solvers’ rating based on their performance. Category 3, which is only of two hours, is unrated.

Types of Compositions

The contest features six types of puzzles: Mate in 2 (2#), Mate in 3 (3#), Mate in 4 or more moves (n#), Endgame (EG), Helpmate (h#), and Selfmate (s#).

Category Details:

Category 1: Each round consists of one puzzle from each type (2#, 3#, n#, EG, h#, and s#).
Category 2:
Round 1 - Two 2#, one 3#, one n#, one EG, and one s#.
Round 2 - One 2#, two 3#, one n#, one EG, and one h#.
Category 3: Four 2#, one 3#, and one EG.

Solving Instructions

In all positions, except helpmates, White makes the first move. Hence, "n#" means White to play and mate in n, "+" denotes White to play and win, and "=" denotes White to play and draw.
All diagrams will be displayed from White’s perspective, with a1 located at the bottom-left corner.
Each position solved correctly is worth 5 points.
To earn full marks (5 points) for a 2# puzzle, you only need to provide the correct key move, which is the first move of the solution.
For 3# and n#, you must provide the key and all variations of full length up to White's penultimate move. Black's last move and White's mating move need not be written.
For EG, give all moves up to an obvious win or draw.
In a Helpmate in n moves (h#n), Black plays first and both sides cooperate to get the black king mated in the stipulated number of moves. Helpmate may have multiple solutions or multiple parts, also known as twins. When this occurs, it will be clearly indicated in the question. To score full marks, you must provide all solutions or solve all parts, as indicated. A solution to a helpmate is written in the following format:
1) Black move, White move
2) Black move, White move
..
n) Black move, White move#
In a Selfmate, White makes the first move and the goal is to compel Black to mate the white king in the given number of moves. Unlike in a helpmate, where Black works together with White, in a Selfmate, Black does not comply and is instead forced to deliver mate. To score full marks in a s#, write the key move and all full-length variations till White's last move.

Additional Rules

All personal electronic devices, including mobile phones, smartwatches, and tablets, must be switched off during the contest.
Participants are required to carry their own pen for writing answers.
Chess sets will be provided at the venue; however, participants may carry their own non-digital chess sets if they so choose.
Silence must be maintained throughout the contest. No discussion with other participants is permitted. Any participant found using unfair means will be disqualified.