This years European Chess Solving Championship is to be held at Sunningdale during April. Most of the worlds top chess solvers are expected to be at the event, which will decide this years individual European Champion and the Champion nation of Europe.
Irish interest will centre on Northern Ireland-born solver Michael McDowell who will be in the GB team; he now lives in England and has three times won the British Chess Solving Championship. Ranked 39th in the world, with a solving Elo of 2459, FIDE solving Master McDowell is one of the organisers of the event. In addition to solving, he is also an internationally-known chess problem composer and is organising chess problem composing competitions as part of the event.
Favourite for the individual solving title is the current European and World Champion Piotr Murdzia from Poland, but solving Grandmasters from Russia, Great Britain, Germany and many others will be keen to unseat him. Poland also hold the team title, but are likely to be outgraded by Russia who should start as favourites. Great Britain, with two former World Champions as well as McDowell in their squad, are also expected to contend for the title. Competitors have to solve chess problems and endgame studies, against the clock, and each round includes orthodox two-, three- and more-movers, as well as selfmates, helpmates and studies. Titles and gradings for chess solving are similar to the over-the-board system, with Grandmasters, International Masters and Fide Masters of solving. Murdzia is currently the highest rated solver with a rating of 2843.
The venue, familiar to 4NCL players, is the De Vere Sunningdale Park Hotel, at Sunningdale near Windsor on the outskirts of London. The event takes place from Friday April 9th to Monday April 12th, with the main European Championship competitions on the Saturday and Sunday mornings. The event will also include solving events for the public, problem-composing competitions and lectures; chess enthusiasts are welcome to take part in these. Full details are on the ECSC website.
For more information, contact: The ECSC Organiser (+44) 113 2620609, or (+44) 7768 847476.