Latest News

update: 9 December 2024

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Vladislav Tarasiuk (Ukraine) did send this new study with the interesting task:

Incarceration of three white pieces: Rook, Bishop and Knight

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7 December 2024 is the 20th anniversary date of this website.

20 years ago started as a simple website in Dutch.

In 2015 updated basically to English, but many laguage translations available.

Now more than 1750 articles available.

With both actuality and history.

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In the UAPA 24th 2024 tournament there are the following prize winners:

In the thematic section A:

"Study for win or draw with blocking or temporary blocking of black queen or rook."

there are no prize winners but some Honorable mentions and a Commendation.

Find them in the PDF-file.

In section B1: Win studies:

1. Oleg Pervakov

2. Michal Hlinka with Luboš Kekely

3. Mario Micaloni with Daniele Gatti

4. Pavel Arestov with Peter Krug

5. Daniil Yakimovich

In section B2, Draw studies:

1. Oleg Pervakov

2. Jan Timman

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Chessbase India with WFCC organizes a Endgame study tournament called

"My first endgame study".

Anyone who has never published an endgame study can participate !

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Volodymyr Samilo from Ukraine has created the following Endgame study in memory of

Isenegger, Samuel 1899-1964 (2.11.1899 -15.11.1964)

For his 125th anniversary of birth and 60th anniversary of death.

The study is a variation of this study by Isenegger.

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Harold van der Heijden has written two nice articles at ChessBase.

One about underpromotion and

another also about underpromotion but then about the Babson Task study of Gady Costeff.

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In the Moscow 2024 ty the only prize winner is:

Pavel Arestov with Petr Kiryakov.

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In the Probleemblad 2021-2022 the prize winners are:

1/2. Steffen Nielsen , Michael Pasman

3. Michael Pasman

4. Steffen Nielsen and Martin Minski

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In the 10th FRME 2024 the prize winners are:

1. Petromir Panayotov (Bulgaria)

2. David Gurgenidze (Georgia)

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New issue Finales Y Temas 137 Extra by José Copié,

mainly about Paul Morphy.

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The Babson Task by Gady Costeff in an Endgame study !!!

(see front diagram of EG 238 below)

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In the Hornecker MT 2024 the rankings have changed.

Read the page 1000 in the Quartz-60 issue.

(A new PDF for the reward is yet available).

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For the UAPA 23rd 2024 ty now also the Section B1 and B2 are available to download and replay.

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New issue 238 of EG has been issued:

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New book by Jan Timman:

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Some sad news from Hungary, Peter Gyarmati is in a hospital due to a stroke.

We wish him a good recovery !

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If you are using of X / Twitter, you might consider to follow Jan Timman (@GMJanTimman)

who posts daily chess quotes and chess puzzles, mainly based on Chess endgame studies.

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In the FRME 6th TT 2024, the prize winners are:

1. Ivan Belonozhko

2. Oleg Pervakov

3. Yochanan Afek

4. Pavel Arestov

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In the 23rd UAPA 2024 ty the prize winners are:

UAPA 23rd 2024 SectionA_TT

Section A: Theme

1. Michael Pasman

2. Oleg Pervakov

3/4. Andrzej Jaszik, Pavel Arestov

Section B1: Studies Win

1. Sergey Osintsev

2. Michael Pasman

3. Serhiy Didukh

4. Peter Krug and Pavel Arestov

5. Michael Pasman

Section B2. Studies Draw

1. Oleg Pervakov

2. Jan Timman

3. Sergey Osintsev

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New issue of the spanish Finales Y Temas 136 by José Copié.

100 issues of this magazine are to be found here at Arves !

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Sad composer news from Russia.

Vladimir Ilyich Katsnelson has passed away.

There is a small obituary at the Selivanov website:

Katsnelson, Vladimir 1937-2024

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Vladimir Neistadt published his interesting memoirs on the site of the Altai Chess Federation

See also more about him: Neistadt, Vladimir 1950

Rainer Staudte found also some information about the brother of him: Pawel Neistadt.

For now added to the page about Vladimir.

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Humoristic study by Daniele Gatti from Italy:

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For the SŠZ 100 JT 2024 ty the prize winners are:

1. Martin Minski

2. Oleg Pervakov

3. Amatzia Avni

4. Vladislav Tarasiuk

5. Justus Zimm

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For the British magazine The Problemist 2023 ty the prize winners are:

1. Steffen Nielsen

2. Sirhey Didukh

3. Sarah Hornecker, Martin Minski and Jan Sprenger

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In the Sachova Skladba 2023 ty the only prize winner is Martin Minski.

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In the Azerbaijan Jirtdan 2024 ty the prize winners are:

1st and 2nd prize to Oleg Pervakov

3rd prize to Yuri Bazlov

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Studies selected in the Chess Artistry Adventure 2024

The CAA is an event organized by Judit Polgar.

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Sad news from Bulgaria.

At 11-8-2024 GM Petko Petkov passed away.

One of all -time greatest composers with an output of more than 6000 problems in all genres ,

5 time world champion with record entries in Fide albums.

Petkov, Petko 1942-2024

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In the 8th YCCC 2024 the place results are:

1. Ural Khasanov, (Russia)

2. Ilija Serafimović, (Serbia)

3. Itay Richardson, (Israel)

4-6. William Dolmer, (Canada), Andrii Sergiienko, (Ukraine), Ben Smolkin, (Canada)

7. Benjamin Defromont, (France)

8-9. Dylan Schenker, (USA), Renārs Mūzis, (Latvia)

10-13. Tymon Piotrowski, (Poland), Anton Nasyrov, (Russia), Ivan Vasiliev, (Russia), Anirudh Daga, (India, Singapore)

14. Taras Rudenko, (Ukraine)

15. Idan David, (Israel)

16-17. Ivan Belonozhko, (Russia), Iancu-Ioan Sandea, (Romania)

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In the magazine ty Die Schwalbe 2021-2022 the prize winners are:

1-2. Michael Pasman, Jan Rusinek

3. Gunter Sonntag

4-5. Jarl Henning Ulrichsen, Paul Raican

6. Michael Pasman

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At the Congress Polish Chess Composers 2024,

also a Chess Endgame Study competition was held.

(page 17 of the PDF file)

The prize winners are:

1. Jan Rusinek

2. Bogusz Piliczewski & Jan Rusinek

3/4. Marek Kwiatkowski

3/4 Jan Rusinek

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At the Jurmala 2024 congress titles were awarded to:

Steffen Nielsen became GrandMaster,

Jan Sprenger became FIDE-Master.

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In the Hornecker Memorial ty (See PDF in Award Files), the prize winners are:

1. M. Gromov & Oleg Pervakov

2. Alexey Gasparyan

3. Ivan Bondar & Mikhail Khramtsevich

4. Steffen Nielsen

5. Y. Afek & M.Pasman

6. V.Hergert & M.Minski

7. M.Hlinka & L.Kekely

Picture with (left-to-right) Paul Raican (tourney judge), GM Martin Minski, GM Yochanan Afek and GM Steffen Nielsen at the event.

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Branislav Durasevic has published a nice article showing his Endgame Studies:

Pearls of the Chess Games in Chess Informant 160.

You may find it at his personal page here at Arves:

Đurašević, Branislav 1957

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Study composers at the 66th World Congress of Chess Compositions at Jurmala, (Latvia) 2024.

From left to right:

Martin Minski, Yochanan Afek, Gady Costeff,

Marcel Van Herck, Michael Schlosser,

Rainer Staudte, Beat Neuenschwander, Jan Sprenger,

Daniele Gatti, Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen, Ilija Serafimovic.

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Very sad news:

Mario Guido Garcia (Argentina) passed away at 12 July 2024.

Condolences to his family and all being part of this website.

Mario was a great contributor to Chess Endgame studies and also to this website.

Peter Krug did send me this message:

"He was a very hard-working person. He enjoyed great success in his professional life as a professor.

He achieved a great deal in chess composition, not only as an extremely productive student composer,

but also as a problem chess composer, adjudicator, controller and corrector.

He has created a platform for chess study composers on UAPA.

Now that he is dead, I don't know if this platform for study composers is still available.

Mario Guido García was a driving force in study composition. He created over 200 studies in co-operation with me.

I think this is a great loss for the chess study world!

I have written some words on time note. https://timenote.info/de/Mario-Guido-Garcia

See also: Garcia, Mario 1948-2024

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For the Lithuanian Chess Composers Union, the famous duo Michael Hlinka with Lubos Kekely

were the 4x winners of the honors in this 2020-2023 competition are.

Also I Aliev and R.Staudte were mentioned.

See the PDF in the Award Files.

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In the Chepizhny 90 JT tournament (See PDF in Award Files) the prize winners are:

1. Y. Bazlov with V. Neustadt

2. M.Notkin with S.N. Tkachenko

3. M.Gromov with O.Pervakov

4. V.Hertgert with M.Minski

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For the Vratnica-64 2023 ty the prize winners are:

1. Michael Pasman

2. Michal Hlinka with Luboš Kekely

3. Darko Hlebec

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In the Problem Paradise 2023 ty, in the Section with Win-studies the 3 prize winners ex aequo are:

1-3. Peter Krug, Jan Timman, Michael Pasman.

In the Section with Draw studies the prize winners are:

1. Eduard Eilazyan

2. Michael Pasman

3. Andrzej Jasik

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In the Pat a Mat 2022-2023 ty the prize winners are:

1. Thomas Niessen

2. Pavel Arestov with Daniel Keith

3. Vladimir Samilo with Vladislav Tarasiuk

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Announcement:

Siegfried Hornecker Memorial Tourney, WCCC Jurmala 2024:

He was, together with Michael Roxlau, the editor of studies at Die Schwalbe.

His autobiographical book "Weltenfern" can be found on the ARVES website (here):

Weltenfern || book by Siegfried Hornecker

He presented an interesting endgame study with detailed explanation each month in chessbase.com website.

In his memory, Quartz launches a thematic tournament at WCCC Jurmala 2024.

"The requirement is: in direct play, a white piece occupies an X square at least twice during the solution, then leaves it.

These occupation moves must be done without capture and without check.

The thematic piece may not be a white King."

The tourney is open to all and not just the congress participants.

and that the entries would preferably be sent also in a PDF file format.

Details at wfcc.

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Sarah (former Siegfried) Hornecker passed away at 22.3.2024

Sarah regularly wrote articles for EG and Chessbase and was a successful study composer.

Martin Minski: "We were good friends. My condolences to his family. Rest in peace."

Hornecker, Siegfried/Sarah 1986-2024

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At Chessbase.com an nice introduction and announcement for the

8th YCCC (Youth Chess Composing Challange)

where composers born 2001 or younger can show their creations.

By GM Marjan Kovačević, WFCC President,

(World Federation of Chess Composition).

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The following study by Yochanan Afek is praised at Youtube with nice comments.

The study won 2nd pr. in Jan Timman-60 2012 and The Study of the Year 2012 award.

[Event "2nd Prize Jan Timman 60-JT"] [Date "2012.03.20"] [Round "18"] [White "Afek, Yochanan"] [Black ""] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Afek"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1kn2B2/2R1RP2/2P5/7r/8/1P1p2q1/K7/2N5 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "33"] [EventDate "2012.09.11"] 
 1. Rb7+ (1. Rxc8+ $2 Kxc8 2. Re8+ Kc7 3. Bd6+ Qxd6 4. f8=Q Qxf8 (4... Rh2+ 5. Kb1 Qxf8 6. Rxf8 d2 7. Rf1 dxc1=Q+ 8. Rxc1 Rh6 $11) 5. Rxf8 d2 6. Rf1 dxc1=Q 7. Rxc1 Ra5+ $1 8. Kb2 Ra6 $11) 1... Ka8 2. Ra7+ $3 Nxa7 3. Re8+ Nc8 4. Rxc8+ Ka7 5. Bc5+ $1 Rxc5 6. Ra8+ $3 (6. f8=Q $2 Qg2+ 7. Ka3 Ra5+ 8. Kb4 Qd2+ 9. Kc4 Qxc1+ $11) 6... Kxa8 7. f8=Q+ Qb8 8. Qxc5 d2 9. c7 (9. Qa5+ $4 Qa7 $19) 9... dxc1=N+ $1 10. Kb1 $1 (10. Qxc1 $2 Qxc7 $1 11. Qxc7 $11) 10... Qc8 $1 (10... Qxb3+ 11. Kxc1 $18) 11. Qc6+ Ka7 12. Kxc1 Qh3 $1 13. c8=N+ $1 (13. c8=Q $2 Qf1+ $11) (13. c8=B $19 Qxb3 14. Qc7+ Ka8 $11) 13... Kb8 14. Nb6 $1 Qxb3 15. Qc8+ Ka7 16. Qa8+ Kxb6 17. Qb8+ {Mutual phoenix theme and mutual knight underpromotions following highly sacrificial introductory play} 1-0

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In the Tehtavaniekka 2023 tournament the prize winners are:

1. Jan Sprenger

2. Peter Krug

3. Martin Minski

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In the 64-Shakhmatnoye Obozrenye 2023 tournament

(see PDF in Award Files) the prize winners are:

1. A.Avni with M.Pasman

2. Martin Minski

3. E. Egorov with O. Pyankova

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The ChessStar Ministar-V ty with theme: Miniature, shows 4 studies.

Pavel Arestov was awarded a Honorary Mention.

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As of page 12 in the Variantim 92 magazine

you may find the awarded Studies of the

Variantim 2023

Israeli Ring Tournament 2023.

The prizewinners are:

1-2 Amatzia Avni with Martin Minski

1-2 Steffen Nielsen

3. Steffen Nielsen.

Also Michael Pasman has an interesting article about studies as of page 27.

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In the Shakhmatnaya-Kompozitsiya-2023 the prize winners are:

1. Vladimir Kuzmichev

2. Volker Hergert with Martin Minski

(See the PDF in the Award files)

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Favourite chess book of the recent Toronto Candidate tournament winner

Dommaraju Gukesh is

written by Yochanan Afek about Studies

Check at YT Chessbase India (minute 2:30)

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The Argentinian UAPA 22th provisionally award: UAPA 22th 2023 has 3 sections.

The prize winners in these sections are:

For Section A : Thematic: Logic study with false try in a preliminary plan

1. Michael Pasman

2. Oleg Pervakov

3. Michael Pasman

4. Pavel Arestov

Section B1, Theme free, Wins:

1-2. Oleg Pervakov

1-2. Jan Timman with Steffen Nielsen and Mario Garcis

3. Oleg Pervakov.

Section B2, Theme free, Draws:

1. Oleg Pervakov

2+3+4. Michael Pasman.

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The prize winner for the Sachova Skladba 2022 tournament is:

Mchael Pasman.

(Judged by Vladislav Tarasiuk living in the war-zone in Kharkov).

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For the magazine Schach 2022-2023 tournament the prize winners are:

1. Jan Sprenger

2. Michael Pasman

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For the Bilokin 85 MT the prize winners are:

1. Serhiy Didukh

2. Jan Sprenger

3. Martin Minski

4-5. Michael Pasman

4-5. Jan Timman

6. Steffen Nielsen

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The prize winners for the 7th Thematic tournament by The Macedonian Problemist 2023 are:

1. Oleg Pervakov

2. Jan Sprenger

3. Serhiy Didukh

4. Steffen Nielsen with Martin Minski

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Fo the Nosek 70 JT tournament, 6 prizes were given.

1st prize for Michael Pasman,

2-3 prize to co-work of trio Michal Hlinka, Lubos kekely and Pavel Arestov

2-3 prize to co work of F. Korostenski and Jaroslav Polasek

4-5 prize to Yochanan Afek

4-5 prize to co-work of Martin Minski and Steffen Nielsen

6th prize to co-work of V. Babula and Jaroslav Polasek

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Martin Minski meets Judit Polgar in his hometown Berlin, in the Reichstag at an Simultan exhibition.

"Judit is an ambassador of peace, an interesting personality and a great promoter of Endgame studies".

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Chessbase India with an interesting 1,5 hour interview with GM Afek, Yochanan 1952 at Facebook.

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The yearly solving contest at Nunspeet had the following studies to solve.

May be try it first your selve without looking at the solutions?

Oploswedstrijd 2024

The winners:

(Left to right:) David Hodge, Richard Dobias, Andy Ooms.

Rankinglist:

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Daniele Gatti created this posthume co-study with and in memory of Marco Bonavoglia

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Chessbase India often uses Endgame studies to popularize chess.

This study is showed at Instagram and at Twitter in a nice way

with a challenge of the most beautiful chess combination.

[Event "Polish Chess Fed 2018 2nd prize"]
[Site ""]
[Date "2018"]
[Round ""]
[White "Vladimir Kuzmichev"]
[Black ""]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "RQ2K3/2P3k1/8/1B6/8/8/3r2q1/2R5 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "1910"]


1. Bd3 $1 (1. Bd7 $6 Qg6+ 2. Kd8 Qf6+ 3. Kc8 Qf8+ 4. Kb7 Qb4+ 5. Kc8 Qf8+ $11)  1... Rxd3 2. Rg1 $1 Qxg1 3. Qb2+ $1 (3. c8=Q $2 Qg6+ 4. Ke7 Qf7#) 3... Kh7 $1 ( 3... Rd4 4. Qxd4+ $1 Qxd4 5. c8=Q $1 $18 Qe4+  6. Kd8 Qh4+ 7. Kc7 Qf4+ 8. Kb7 Qb4+ 9. Ka7 Qd4+ 10. Kb8 Qb4+ (10... Qf4+ 11. Qc7+) 11. Qb7+) 4. Qh8+ $3 Kxh8 5. Kf7+ $1 Kh7 6. Rh8+ $1 Kxh8  7. c8=Q+ Kh7 8. Qf5+ $1 Kh6 (8... Kh8 9. Qh5#) 9. Qf6+ $1 Kh5 (9... Kh7 10. Qh4#) 10. Qh8+ Kg4 11. Qg7+ $18 1-0 your web browser and/or your host do not support iframes as required to display the chessboard

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Study composed by Volodymyr Samilo (Ukraine)

in memory of John Derek Beasley

(after John Beasley, 1998)

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Sad news: at 3 March John Derek Beasley passed away at an age of 84.

He had had cancer for some while, but was well enough to publish his last book a few months ago.

John was a very active Chess Endgame study promotor who also attributed a lot to this Arves website.

You may look into the Collections menu for articles like this:

Studies Richard Réti by John Beasley

and he wrote an Arves book in 2003:

Depth and Beauty, Artur Mandler book by John Beasley

We will miss him greatly.

Beasley, John 1940-2024

His latest book available at: https://www.debestezet.nl/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=5820

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In the Magyar Sakkvilag 2023 the prize winners are:

1. Steffen Nielsen

2. Pavel Arestov

3. Peter Krug with Mario Garcia

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For the Polish Chess Fed 2023 the prize winners are:

1-2 Gady Costeff

1-2 Marek Kwiatkowski

3-4 Jacek Gigola with Bogusz Piliczewski and Iwan Borisenko

3-4 Michael Pasman

5th Andrzej Babiarz

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The 1-3rd ex eqauo prize winners for the miniature 7-chess-notes-2023 tournament are:

Martin Minski,

Pavel Arestov with Daniel Keith,

Pavel Arestov with Peter Krug

(See PDF in Awards Files)

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Young OTB Grandmaster of India: Praggnanandhaa tries to solve 6 studies in 1 hour:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfo91oCJ-xc&t=1114s

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In the Hlinka 70-JT 2023 tournament there are two sections.

The winners in section A, "Up till 10 figures" the 1st-3rd prize winners are:

Rainer Staudte and Michael Schlosser,

Jaroslav Polasek and Emil Vlasak

Michael Pasman.

In section B also 1st-3rd prizes to:

Valery Kalashnikov and Sergey Osintsev,

Oleg Pervakov,

Michael Pasman.

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For the Zadachi i Etyudi 2022,

the 1st prize winner is the very active composer

Michael Pasman

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In the informal tournament The Macedonian Problemist 2022

1st prize to Sirhey Didukh

2nd prize to Michael Pasman

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In the Variantim 91 issue, articles about studies by

Gady Costeff (page 2),

Serhiy Didukh (pages 3-5) and

Michael Pasman (pages 16-18).

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New book with studies of Mattison, Hermann 1894-1932

Available at Amazon.

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As mentioned earlier, at the Chessbase website, Siegfried Hornecker writes every month

an interesting article about Chess Endgame studies.

The latest one of 8-jan is about the 50-move rule which can make a difference in the outcome.

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At the ECF Book of the Year Shortlist, this is written about:

The Pawn Study Composer's Manual, Mikhail Zinar

The Pawn Study Composer’s Manual

Mikhail Zinar Elk and Ruby pp284 £24.95

Pawn studies may be a niche in the chess world, but this high-class book,

written by a man who spent a lifetime composing pawn studies,

demonstrates the richness and depth of the game.

The reader will find instruction, enjoyment and inspiration therein.

Zinar, a Ukrainian, died in 2021 and this edition was updated by Zinar’s close friend Tkachenko,

“with my city (Odesa) being regularly bombed, which considerably slowed progress!”

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Book review: Anthology of miniature Endgame Studies

Afek, Yochanan 1952.

More than 2000 works of art many of which have become classics,

various periods, composers, themes and styles are represented.

At this website it is for sale with this text:

Solving endgame studies has become a major working tool in modern chess training combining the instructive with the enjoyable.

Studies are highly recommended for refining calculating and tactical skills, deepening endgame understanding,

as well as improving creativity and out of the box thinking.

The Anthology of Miniature Endgame Studies is the biggest selection of composed endings with up to seven pieces on the board,

created by the world’s best composers throughout the past 150 years.

The carefully selected studies are categorized into thematic chapters.

The game-like positions highlight the power and typical qualities of each piece alone and in collaboration with other pieces.

From the foreword by GM Jan Timman: “Endgame studies are in fact an important factor in becoming a strong player.

It is significant that both Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen have a keen interest in endgame studies.

It is praiseworthy that Chess Informant was ready to publish this important work. Afek is arguably the most qualified person to write it.”

You can download or look into an Excerpt of the book, with more than 50 examples.

Task on the cover of the book, white plays and wins:

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As we just have showed many new books about Endgame studies,

here you may find all of the books (66!!) issued and written by Arves-member:

Grondijs, Harrie 1946

For details about each book, just click on the picture of the book.

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Interesting book (issued by Vasily Lebedev) titled

111 Magic Studies

composed by Zhukov, Alexander 1963

It is in Russian language, beautiful hard-cover and has more than 500 pages.

More about it at the composers page where also many of the studies in the book are showed.

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Attention for the new Fide Album:

In eight sections you will find 273 two-movers, 241 three-movers, 159 moremovers

, 227 endgame studies,

400 helpmates, 215 selfmates, 357 fairy compositions and 112 retros.

Each chess problem has been selected by a panel of judges and commented on by experts.

Besides that, many pages of indexes and definitions.

More info and sample pages at FideAlbum.com

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Today 4.1 is:

The tournament organized for this special day:

Triumph of International Law 2023

Has as prize winners:

1. Steffen Nielsen

2. Bogusz Piliczewski

3. Amatzia Avni with Yochanan Afek

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In the ChessStar 2023 the 1st and 3rd prize are won by Steffen Nielsen.

2nd prize to Michael Pasman.

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In the Italian Scacchistiche 2023 tournament (See page 6-9 in PDF, Awards Files)

the 1st prize winner is: Peter Krug

2nd prize for Amatzia Avni with Martin Minski

3rd prize to Michael Pasman.

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Happy, healthy, peaceful and creative new year 2024 !

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The prize winners for the Chess Study Art 2023 tournament are:

1. Michael Pasman

2. Steffen Nielsen

3. Martin Minski

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New book: SECRETS OF QUEEN ENDGAMES

(by Ferenc Berkes and Tibor Karolyi)

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The UAPA 21st 2023 has 3 sections.

In Section A with the theme: "In the study a white key-move has also a try on the same square"

the prize winners are:

1-3 ex-aequo: Serhiy Didukh, Oleg Pervakov, Michael Pasman.

In Section B1 Win studies:

1. Oleg Pervakov,

2. Jan Timman,

3. Eduard Eilazyan,

4. Andrzej Jasik,

5. Michael Pasman.

In Section B2 Draw studies:

1. Valery Kalashnikov,

2. Michael Pasman,

3. Helmut Waelzel,

4. Eduard Eilazyan.

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In the Ukraine 21st Team Championship 2023 tournament

the first 4 prize winners are:

1. Vladislav Tarasiuk
2. Eduard Eilazyan
3-4. Valery Kopyl, Volodymyr Pogorelov, Taras Rudenko
3-4. Volodymyr Pogorelov

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In the FRME 9th 2023 tournament the prize winners are:

1. Pavel Arestov with Amatzia Avni

2. Evgeny Egorov

(See PDF in the Awards Files;

NB. In the Hlinka_Kekely study, the white king should be at f6)

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In the Ural Ekaterinenburg 300 tournament the prize winners are:

1st prize to: Sergei. Osintsev

2nd prize to: Yuri Bazlov with Vladimir Neishtadt

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In the Karmil 65 JT only Honorary Mention- awards were given.

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Another new book by Steffen Nielsen and Jacob Aagaard:

Endgame Labyrinths presents the reader with 1002 challenging studies selected and truncated,

with their usefulness for the practical player in mind.

It is common for studies to be extended by less interesting manoeuvres or by incomprehensible sequences,

before the main themes come into play.

The studies in this book have been pruned to leave the reader with 1002 clear and solvable challenges.

More information about it at QualityChess.

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In the EG 2020-2021magazine tournament.

1st prize to Petr Kiryakov

2nd prize to Jan Sprenger

3rd prize to Amatzia Avni with Vladislav Tarasiuk.

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Sad news from Slovakia:

Bedrich Formánek passed away at 19.11.2023.

Obituary from Executive Board of the Slovak Chess Composition Organization:

Bedrich passed away on November 19, 2023, at the age of 90.
A long-time the President of the Slovak Chess Composition Organization (SOKŠ)

and later its Honorary President, a former President of the Permanent Commission for Chess Composition (PCCC)

and then the Honorary President of the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC),

member of the SOKŠ Hall of Fame, chess composer, judge, lecturer, organizer, author of several books on chess composition

and its tireless promoter, author of 7,475 chess composition columns in newspapers, chess godfather of many Slovak chess composers,

but above all a great person and a good friend.
We will certainly return to his work, life and compositions for a very long time.

Bedrich, R.I.P.

More about him: Formanek, Bedrich 1933-2023

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In the Moscow 2023 tournament there one prize winner:

M. Gromov with Oleg Pervakov.

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In the Voia 100 MT 2023 tournament,

1st prize to Vladislav Tarasiuk,

2nd prize to Michael Pasman

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A podcast (German language) with GM Minski, Martin 1969 on "Schachgefluster" no. 191.

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New Fide Title holders:

Congratulations to Slumstrup Nielsen, Steffen 1975 (Denmark) becoming International Grandmaster in Chess composition

and Sumbatyan, Karen 1959 (Russia) becoming International Master in Chess composition.

Fide Master titles for: Sergiy Didukh (Ukraine), Daniel Keith (France),

Jan Sprenger (Germany), Aleksandr Stavrietsky (Russia).

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Message with thanks from Japan:

"Thank you for your support and contributions to Problem Paradise.

The magazine celebrated its 100th and final print publication this month.

Starting with the next issue, all issues will be published online at

https://problem-paradise.com/.

As we celebrate this major milestone, I have decided to step down as its Endgame Editor after 22 years.

It has been my great pleasure to see the excellent and wonderful studies sent in by composers from all over the world.

One of my reasons for resigning is to focus on my work as Director of the National Chess Federation.

Thank you for supporting Problem Paradise for so long.

My successor will be Mr. Ryo Shiomi.

Ryo is a strong OTB player, former national champion, and a good chess friend of mine.

Please send your new studies to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and let me ask for your continued support.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to greatly appreciate Mr. Tadashi Wakashima,

the founder and editor-in-chief of this great magazine, who kindly helped and supported me for a long time.

Thank you all again!

Best wishes,

Hiroshi Manabe."

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FIDE Album 2019-2021 for Endgame studies results available !

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In the Problemist Ukraine 2023 tournament the prize winners are:

1. Gady Costeff

2. Vladislav Tarasiuk

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EG-234 has been issued:

A Chess Composition Tourney Sponsored by WFCC and ChessBase India

My First Endgame study.

In partnership with the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC), we proudly present 'My First Endgame Study,' a beginner-friendly study composing contest designed for chess enthusiasts eager to explore the creative world of chess composition, specifically studies.

Compose Your First Endgame; Win Exciting Prizes!

Chess compositions fall into two primary categories: problems and studies. In problems, the solver has to achieve the stipulated goal in a set number of moves (example: mate in 2, helpmate in 3, etc.). Studies, in contrast, are more game-like, seeking a win or a draw without restrictions on the number of moves. Important: this is a study composition event only. Submissions must be studies; problems will not be eligible.

Who Can Participate:

Anyone who has never published an endgame study. This includes everyone from chess amateurs all the way to world-class players like Gukesh and Magnus Carlsen! There is NO entry fee. Chess lovers of any age, nationality, etc., may apply!

When:

The deadline to send your submission is January 15, 2025. Well, composing isn't a rush job. We give you 8 weeks to carefully conceive and shape your original idea into a polished study.

How:

Submit up to 3 endgame studies to the director of the event Satanick Mukhuty at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can send the positions along with the intended solution in any format of your liking, but PGNs would be preferred. Make sure to mention My First Endgame Study in the subject. Satanick can also be reached out on WhatsApp. His number is +918918723798

Theme:

Your study must end in a mate.

Results:

The results will be published by January 31, 2025 – all participants will receive a link to the results.

Prizes:

Amazingly, we're offering an incredible prize pool of at least 10 awards! Our top creators will receive exclusive copies of the highly anticipated book One Endgame Study in a Thousand, and premium ChessBase products, including the brand-new ChessBase 18.

More information at Chessbase India.

Competition in memory of Vladimir Katsnelson

July 11, 2024

Competition in memory of Vladimir Ilyich Katsnelson

The Chess Composition Commission of the St. Petersburg Chess Federation and the collection “Problems and Studies” announce an international competition in memory of Vladimir Ilyich Katsnelson.

The competition is held in the sketches section.

The topic is free.

Judge: Alexey Popov , Saint Petersburg.

Studies marked "MK V. Katsnelson" should be sent to the email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than 11/07/2024? (may be 7-11-2024)

The results of the competition will be published before the end of 2024 on the website www.selivanov.world , as well as in the latest issue of the collection “Problems and Etudes” for 2024.

See: www.selivanov.world/news1/detail.php?ID=1869

A formal contest for study composing is announced, open to all.
The theme is free with one exception – no logical studies.

Each composer may send up to 3 studies, including joint works.

There will be three money prizes – 250$, 200$ and 150$.

There will also be some book prizes, therefore all participants are requested to send their postal address along with the pgn file containing position and full solution.

Send your original studies by e-mail to the tourney director, Gady Costeff, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The closing date for receiving the works is 30/10/2024.

The award is guaranteed to be sent to all participants on 17/12/2024

and is expected also to be published in Arves and Variantim.

The judge will be the jubilant, Amatzia Avni

Studies – Judge: Sergiy Didukh

– Entries should be sent to : Sergey Borodavkin : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

– More information about the PROBLEMIST OF UKRAINE magazine competitions posted

on the website http://www.chess-kopyl.com.ua/images/2020/N163outer.pdf

The Royal Moroccan Chess Federation (FRME) organizes the 10th Composing Tourney in four 8
sections:
Twomovers (#2) Judge: Aleksandr Derevchuk (Ukraine)
Send to tournament director: Mustapha Bakani (Marocco) E-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Threemovers (#3) Judge: Valery Kirillov (Russia)
Moremovers (#N) Judge: Elmar Abdullayev (Azerbaijan)
Studies (+;=) Judge: Marek Halski (Poland)
Selfmates (S#) Judge: Jiří Jelínek (Czech Republic)
Send to tournament director:Vidadi Zamanov (Azerbaijan) E-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Helpmates H#2 Judge: Franz Pachl (Germany)
Helpmates H#2.5-3 Judge: Christopher Jones (Great Britain)
Helpmates H#3.5-N Judge: Mike Prcic(USA)
Send to tournament director: Jamal M Elbaz (Morocco) E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The theme in all sections is free.
Prizes, honourable mentions and commendations will be awarded.
Send problems and studies in format Word and PDF.
Closing date: 30. 09. 2024. The award – 2024
All received problems will be presented to the judge in anonymous form.
Award will be published on the website: frme.fr.nf

The magazine “64 – Chess Review”

” announces a traditional competition for composing chess problems and studies
Sections: #2,#3,#n (judge A. Kuzovkov), studies (judge S. Osintsev)

The winners are awarded an annual subscription to the magazine.

Send compositions to the email address of editor Alexander Kuzovkov: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Shakki 100 JT

Shakki, the Finnish chess magazine, was founded in 1924 with the name Suomen Shakki.

The magazine announces an international composing competition

Shakki 100 JT in two groups, both with free theme:

A. Studies, judge Pauli Perkonoja

B. Moremovers, judge Jorma Paavilainen

The entries, not more than three from one composer in each section, joint entries included, to the tournament director Neal Turner via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The deadline is 30th of June 2024.

Russian and Belarusian composers are not eligible to participate.

(Arves is not happy with this statement)

In each section there will be three prizes of 100, 70 and 50 EUR.

The awards will be published during the year 2024.

Announcement tournament: EG 2024-2025

EG, the only periodical exclusively devoted to endgame studies, announces an informal tourney for original studies.

The studies and the award will be published in EG.

We will not publish all the submitted studies, as some magazines and websites do.

Our editor, Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen, will only select compositions of sufficiently high level for publication.

Please send your originals in PGN-format to the editor Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Deadline for submissions for is August 25th, 2025.

The judge for the 2024-2025 tourney is Jan Sprenger.

Section A : Thematic:

Study for win or draw with blocking or temporary blocking of black queen or rook..

- Judge: Ľuboš Kekely (Slovakia)

– : Look pgn : Examples

Section B : Theme free

B.1.) Win – Judge : Alexander Stavrietsky (Russia)

B.2.) Draw – Judge : Pavel Arestov (Russia)

Entries : not more than three per composer (in each section)

– Send studies to: Sebastian Palomo This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

–or M. García This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

– All selected original Studies will be posted periodically on the UAPA website: http://www.problemistasajedrez.com.ar/

– Prizes, honourable mentions, commendations and special nominations will be awarded.

- The provisional award will be issued in November 2024, will be available in the same website and will be sent to all participants by e-mail.

– Closing date 31 8 .2024

Eleventh FIDE World Cup in Composing 2023

See for all the information: https://www.wfcc.ch/competitions/composing/fidewcc_2023/

The tournament will be conducted from April 1 to October 1, 2023.

The closing date for submitting the entries is June 15, 2023.

Entries must be sent on diagrams with complete solution and any comments by e-mail only to the Director’s address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Participants should mention their postal address in the email.

Tehtäväniekka 2024

Finnish Chess Problem Society’s magazine Tehtäväniekka 2024.

Original studies for an informal tourney, no set theme.

The composer will receive a PDF file of the publication issue and award.

Judge: Vladislav Tarasiuk (Ukraine)

Send your entries to the editor Vladislav Tarasiuk: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SACHOVA SKLADBA 2024

Studies, no set theme

– Judge : Luboš Sedlák

– Prizes , honourable mentions , commendations and special nominations will be awarded.

Send studies to: Jiri Jelinek or Jaroslav Polasek

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Information about competitions in other genres: Pavel Kamenik –This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.–

Also see this link; http://problem64.beda.cz/ss/rozhodci.htm

ZADACHY I ETIUDY- 2024

Studies – Yury Bazlov

– #2 – A. Slesarenko ,

# 3 –A. Sygurov. #n – G. Popov ,,

H # –P. Zabirokhin

S # – – A. Stepochkin,

F # –V. Nefyodov.

– The problemas and studies will be published as originals in the magazine Zadachy I Etiudy during 2024 Send to S. Bilyk

Send to S. Bilyk – email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Closing date : 15 November 2024

See also this article: Creating studies from games, Steffen Nielsen

TOURNEY MAGAZINE “PHENIX” 2024

The French magazine “Phenix” is looking for original orthodox studies (theme free, entries will be published in the magazine)

for its informal tourney for the year 2024

Please send your entries to Daniel Capron : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

until october 31, 2024.

Judge: Jaroslav Polasek (Rep. Checa)
The preliminary award of the tourney will be sent to participants by e-mail

and will be published in the site Internet of “Phenix” and in the magazine.

7th TT FRME, 2025

The Royal Moroccan Chess Federation (FRME) organizes the 7th TT FRME, in 7 sections.

Endgame studies proposed theme: The win study. Need: Underpromotion for second color bishop or third knight, bishop, rook.

The play after underpromotion must continue at least 3rd moves.

Judge: Oleg Pervakov (Russia)

Send to tournament director to Jamal M Elbaz (Morocco)

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Prizes, honourable mentions and commendations will be awarded.

Send problems and studies in format Word and PDF.

Details: fmrefmre website.

Closing date: 01.09.2025.

The award – 2025
All received problems will be presented to the judges in anonymous form.
Award will be published on the website: http://frme.fr.nf

INTERNET TOURNAMENT CHESS MAGAZINE CHESSSTAR – 2023

ChessStar.com announces an annual composing contest in the following sections: #2, #3, #N, Etudes, H# , S#.

– ChessStar-2023 can only be entered by registered users Standard.
Entries are accepted (unlimited) from January 1 to December 31, 2023.
Prizes, honorary and commendable reviews have been established.
Preliminary results will be published on the website on January 31, 2024.

– Chief judge for all sections: Ferhat Karmil (Turkiye)

-Tournament Director Elmar Abdullaev Karmil (Azerbaijan)

CESKOSLOVENSKY SHACH – 2024

The contest will include all original studies published in the journal during 2023.

Send your originals on any topic (maximum 6 by one author) before November 15, 2024 to the address of Michal Hlinka (Slovakia): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,

Judge : Emil Vlasak (Rep.Checa).

More detailed analyzes and the pgn file can be found in the studies section on our website www.sach.cz.

Variantim 2025

The studies will be published as originals in the Israeli magazine Variantim during 2025.

Judge: Michael Pasman

1st prize: $300

Last day to accept studies: 15 November, 2025

- Director : Gady Costeff. Please send studies in PGN format to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The results will be published in 4/2026.

Closing date: November 15/ 2025

SINFONIE SCACCHISTICHE 2024

Other genres : Judges: [≠2] : ………..

- [≠n] : Valerio Agostini

– [H≠2] : Francisco Simoni – [H≠n] : ……….

– [S≠] : Daniele Gatti

– Studies : Daniele Gatti – -Retro : …………..

–– Director : Valerio Agostini –This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PAT A MAT Magazine has pleasure in announcing international tourneys for

A Chess Composition Tourney Sponsored by WFCC and ChessBase India

My First Endgame study.

Compose Your First Endgame; Win Exciting Prizes!

Who Can Participate:

When:

How:

Theme:

Results:

Prizes:

Competition in memory of Vladimir Katsnelson

Eleventh FIDE World Cup in Composing 2023

Daily task - Stalemate

Daily task - White draws

Daily task - White wins.

Daily - Black playes White Wins