This annual event is conducted with a number of “nodes” (sub-events) at locations around the world simultaneously. This year the event takes place on Sunday 26th January 2020. There are two nodes in this country, one being in Sheffield, more specifically at Jurys Inn, 119 Eyre St, Sheffield S1 4QW. (The other UK “node” is in Surbiton.)

There are three sections:

Category 1 for experienced chess solvers,

Category 2 for solvers with an international rating of less than 2000, and

Category 3 for younger solvers born after 31/12/2006.

In each category, solving will start at 10:00 a. m. Categories 1 and 2 will comprise two rounds of two hours each, while Category 3 will be one round of two hours. Lunch will be provided between the rounds. There is no entry fee and no prize fund.

Those wishing to enter please contact local controller Phillip Beckett (link to e-mail page on British Chess Problem Society website) to book your place.

The following solvers are already (17/01/2020) listed as booked for the Sheffield venue:

Brian Cook

David Hodge

Michael McDowell

Colin McNab

Victor Snaith

Brian Stephenson

(Above adapted from information at http://www.theproblemist.org/abcps.pl?type=news&yr=2019)

In 2019 there were 49 tournaments run in 33 countries, with 648 solvers from 49 countries England’s John Nunn came second in Category 1. (See https://www.wfcc.ch/competitions/solving/isc19/.)