2-year cycle of four chess solving competitions, 2025-2026, with the final competition to be held in Fujairah, 27–30 November 2026

Final
Standings
Regulations
Contact

2-year cycle of four chess solving competitions, 2025-2026,
with the final competition to be held in Fujairah, 27–30 November 2026

Final
Standings
Regulations
Contact

The total prize fund in
Grand Prix 2025-26 is
74,000 €

The Grand Prix 2025-2026 FINAL
will take place in a new building
of Fujairah Chess and Culture Club (UAE)
27–30 November 2026

The prize fund for the Fujairah Grand Prix Final is 30,000 €

  • The exact distribution of prizes is given in the Regulations of Grand Prix Final.
  • All solvers qualified for Fujairah-Final are eligible to get free single-room accommodation.
Who qualifies for the Fujairah Final
  • The top 12 participants from the overall standings in the Grand Prix qualifications.
  • The next 6 best participants from the 6 different countries not represented among the top 12.
  • 1 solver nominated by the FIDE.
  • The organizers of the Final have the right to invite other participants and to decide how many invitations there will be.
Prizes for composers
  • The composers around the world will be invited to send their original problems and endgames to be solved in the Fujairah Final.
  • Preliminary selection will be made by the Director of the Fujairah Final.
  • The Top Ten solvers in the final standings will vote for the best problem/endgame in each of the six rounds.
  • The composers of the six selected entries will receive 500 € prizes each – 3000 € in total.

Tournaments 2025-2026

1

Athens
ECSC 2025

26-27 April 2025,
Athens, Greece

2

Alba Iulia
WCSC 2025

8-9 July 2025,
Alba Iulia, Romania

3

Skopje
ECSC 2026

09-10 May 2026,
Skopje, North Macedonia

4

Magdeburg
WCSC 2026

11-12 August 2026,
Magdeburg, Germany

♕

Grand Prix FINAL 2026
Fujairah (UAE)

Chess compositions

Chess compositions are artificial chess positions created by composers to showcase creative logic, paradoxes, or aesthetic beauty rather than to reflect a natural game state. They present a specific task, such as “White to play and mate in two,” and act as a competition of wits between the composer and the solver. Compositions fundamentally differ from over-the-board play, as they are deliberately designed with thematic “rules” rather than emerging from a standard competitive struggle.

Rules for Solving & Writing

Each complete solution carries 5 points. Solutions must be written in classical, abbreviated algebraic notation. Participants are allowed to move pieces on the board while solving.

The Grand Prix competitions follow the WCSC/ECSC rules.

6 rounds over two days, with 3 rounds each day
according to the following table ->

RoundProblems (3 per round)Solving time
1twomovers20 minutes
2threemovers60 minutes
3endgames100 minutes
4helpmates (h#2, h#3, h# >3)50 minutes
5moremovers (at least one 4# and one >4#)80 minutes
6selfmates (s#2, s#3, s# >3)50 minutes

#2
Two-movers

Write only the first move of White. It carries the full 5 points.


#3
Three-movers

Write the first move, the threat (if any), and second moves of White replying to Black’s defences. Only full-length variations score.

+/-
Endgame Studies

All moves should be written until a clear win or draw. Only the main variation is scored, with points distributed throughout.

h#2, h#3, h# >3
Helpmates

Write all moves including the mating move in all intended solutions.


#n
Moremovers

Write the first move, the threat (if any), and all different white replies to Black’s defences except the mating move.

s#2, s#3, s# >3
Selfmates

Write the first move, the threat (if any), and all different white replies to Black’s defences up to White’s last move.

Leg No. 1
Leg No. 2
Leg No. 3
Leg No. 4
Final ♕