The players with the best results will be eligible to participate in the 49th World Chess Solving Championship to be held in Magdeburg, Germany.
What you should know
The first ever Chess Puzzle Solving Contest was held on Sunday. A total of 21 players, including 6 women and 15 men, competed in two categories in the competition organized by the Himalayan Chess Academy.
In the rated competition organized by the academy in collaboration with the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC), no one registered for Category 1, where only very experienced players get a chance. In Category 2 for less experienced players and Category 3 for players under 13 years of age, they spent four hours solving puzzles sent by the WFCC. In Category 2, 12 puzzles were given to solve and in Category 3, 6 puzzles were given to solve.
11 players in Category 2 and 10 players in Category 3 solved the puzzles. They participated from 11 schools and colleges, aged 6 to 24. Puzzle solvers in Category 2 will receive a WFCC rating. According to Academy Director Yaisas Yasir Khambu, the results will be made public this week after the solved papers are sent and checked by the WFCC. Chess puzzle solving facilitates the analysis of players and enhances their abilities.
In collaboration with WFCC, Himalayan Chess Academy has organized a Puzzle Solving Contest in Kathmandu for the first time in the country as part of the International Chess Solving Contest (ISC) 2026. In the 22nd edition of the ISC, more than 900 players are competing simultaneously in 65 cities from 27 countries, including Kathmandu, on Sunday (January 25). The players who achieve the best results in each city will be able to participate in the 49th World Chess Solving Championship to be held in Magdeburg, Germany from August 8 to 15.
