The cover picture is by a Dutch artist Pia Sprong, illustrating the Arves Study Solving Day in Wijk aan Zee, on Saturday, January 23rd 2016. Antti Parkkinen ja Jorma Paavilainen participated, see pp. 30–31 for Antti´s report on the busy weekend, which included the ISC, International Solving Contest, on Sunday. For results and photos, see the Arves web page, http://www.arves.org.
This issue starts with traditional events from past few months. In chronological order, the first one is the ISC. The results of Finnish participants are on p. 13. For the problems, solutions and all results, see the Mat Plus web site http://www.matplus.net/isc.php.
The annual meeting of our society took place in February 27, 2016. The report on the meeting and other related material are on pp. 4–7. The Finnish Championship in Solving was decided on the same day, see. pp. 8–10. The competition was a part of the new World Cup, which is surely why there were more foreign solvers than previously. In spite of strong international participation, two Finns managed to attain medals: Gold for Kari Karhunen and bronze for Harri Hurme. The silver went to Abdelaziz Onkoud. Another strong solver, former World Champion Andrei Selivanov, finished fourth. The problems, selected by Neal Turner, were rather difficult.
The Finnish Chess Problem of the Year 2015 is a fairy 2# by Jorma Paavilainen, dedicated to Harri Hurme for his 70th birthday. Symbolically, the square h7 is very important: a set mate, four tries and the key all use this square. See pp. 11–12 for the top three compositions.
Paha Pähkinä, selected by Neal Turner, is on p. 12. A h#4 with two solutions may not sound especially difficult, but it certainly is! In the recent British Solving Championship only two solvers found both solutions.
On p. 13 we list Finnish problemists celebrating their significant birthdays this year. Our annual meeting of 2016 granted the title of National Master of Chess Composition to Mikael Grönroos. He turned 60 on December 31, 2015, so it is with good reasons that we present him along with three compositions selected and commented by Mikael. See pp. 14–15. On p. 15 we inform on something very important: if you are a paying subscriber, please do not forget to pay either 25 EUR (within Finland) or 28 EUR (foreign subscribers)!
On the next six pages we have two awards, both by Kari Valtonen, only recently appointed as a judge for 2# for 2008–2009 and moremovers for 2006–2007. On pp. 22–30 we have two further awards, both for helpmates and by recently appointed judges, Harry Fougiaxis and Michael McDowell. See pp. 22–26 and pp. 26–30 respectively. Sincere thanks for the judges for their expert work!
Recently successful Finnish compositions are on pp. 32–34. On the next two pages Joose Norri writes about Hans Heinrich Schmitz, who was born 100 years ago. The invitation to the spring meeting of our society for the first weekend in April is on p. 37. For this year´s World Congress on Chess Composition the organisers have announced a composing competition for young people, born not earlier than 1998. This initiative is to be recommended and worth distributing, see pp. 37–39.
The Study of the Year 2014, composed by Oleg Pervakov and Karen Sumbatyan, is on p. 39 with comments by Pauli Perkonoja.
The originals columns are on pp. 40–49. We do not yet have the column of orthodox mates edited by Kari Valtonen, but the next issue should make this up. Please, contribute with your originals! On p. 50 we have the list of Finnish National Masters of Chess Composition and a selection of solvers´ ratings.
The next issue is due to appear in the summer of 2016.
Published 21st March 2016