The composer of the cover problem has influenced greatly the Finnish chess
composition scene - though just having turned 50 years and being for a long
time less active, because of other commitments. Timo Kallio devised the chess
diagram producing tool Chessmen Laser, was the editor in chief of our magazine
for several years and developed it into a modern format. Furthermore, he edited
the best Finnish-language introduction to chess composition. This all took place
within a few years - quite a feat! See p. 125 for more details, two dedication
problems and the solution to the cover problem.
The Finnish Chess Problem Society was established 75 years ago, and this calls
for a celebration. On December 4 we will have a party in Helsinki, the invitation
is on p. 116. On the same page we have the latest ranking of solvers, including
the ISC results, which are finally ready.
The selfmates award of ST 2008-2009 is already available - the judge has been
quick and effective, see p. 117.
There are not many problemists who have not heard of the Wenigsteiner Jahrespreis,
rewarding the best problems of any kind with not more than four pieces. The
recent competition included problems from the year 2009. For the third time
since the inception of this competion, a Finn captured the top spot. In 1991,
GM Unto Heinonen was victorious, in 2001 Henry Tanner and now it was the turn
of Teppo Mänttä to celebrate. The problems of all Finnish winners
are on pp. 120-121 along with a small history of this competition.
The final results of 6th ISC are on p. 122, as also the announcement of Jorma
Pitkänen 70 JT, organised by the jubilee. This page reveals also that a
2# by the late Matti Myllyniemi and Milan Velimirovic is included in the FIDE
album 2004-2006. This means that the FIDE album points of Myllyniemi will rise
to 70,37, exceeding the GM requirement.
On the next page Hannu Harkola writes about three subjects. He visited the Marianka
meeting in Slovakia and recommends this event in future to other Finnish problemists
as well. Immediately after Marianka the presidium of PCCC/ICCU met in Austria,
among other topics preparing for the Crete congress in October 2010. The congress
agenda will surely lead to interesting discussions and we look forward to report
on those in the next ST issue.
The autumn meeting of ST takes place during the last weekend of November, the
invitation is on p. 124. On the same page we have three impressive moremovers
from the award of Schach-Aktiv 2009.
Neal Turner´s Paha Pähkinä, A Tough Nut to Crack, waits for
solvers on p. 125.
The originals columns start from p. 126 and offer something for everybody, the
usual menu: orthodox problems, studies, funny fairies. We appreciate your contributions
and so do our solvers and readers! Send your efforts to our original problems
editors, contact information in respective columns.
The next ST is due to appear in December.
Published 13th October 2010