Selivanov emerges on top at Fujairah Endurance Chess Solving Championship

In a remarkable demonstration of how experience can outshine youth, Andrey Selivanov, a 56-year-old from Russia, emerged winner at the 20th International Solving Contest (ISC) hosted by Fujairah Chess and Culture Club recently.

The groundbreaking chess-solving spectacle will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, and in collaboration with the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC).

The two-day gala at the Novotel Fujairah constituted two events: a 9-round FIDE-rated Blitz tournament, called the Endurance tournament, the International Solving Contest.

Fujairah Endurance Chess Solving Championship offered an impressive prize pool of $35,500, with a groundbreaking allocation where more than half of the prize money was awarded to the winners of the International Solving Contest.

Dr. Abdulla Ali Aal Barket, the President of the Fujairah Chess and Culture Club, Marjan Kovacevic, WFCC president, and other dignitaries were present during the presentation.

Selivanov outperformed his younger compatriots, including the current World Champion in solving, Danila Pavlov, and the 17-year-old prodigy Ural Khasanov.

Possessing Grandmaster titles in both solving and composing, Selivanov achieved a flawless score of 60 out of 60, establishing clear dominance over the rest of the competitors. Danila and Ural secured second and third places, respectively.

While Selivanov may be considered a chess veteran, his prowess in chess solving at the highest echelons is anything but unfamiliar. Back in 2003, in Moscow, he clinched the individual World Chess Solving Championship (WCSC), marking his status as only the second Russian to hold the title after Georgy Evseev. However, Selivanov’s achievements extend beyond solving; he is a prolific creator of chess compositions spanning various genres. Notably, he stands among the select few problemists in history who have earned the prestigious Grandmaster title in both solving and composing.

The 19th edition of the International Solving Contest (ISC), held last year, underscored its global significance with an impressive participation of 601 solvers from 26 countries. Since its inception in 2005, the ISC has experienced remarkable growth, nearly tripling in size.