Unleash Your Chess Creativity: 9th Youth Chess Composing Challenge Awaits!
The World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC) has officially launched the 9th edition of the Youth Chess Composing Challenge (YCCC), an individual competition aimed at fostering the next generation of chess composers. This event invites young talents from around the world to immerse themselves in the intricate and creative art of composing chess problems and studies, providing them with a platform to showcase their ingenuity, develop their skills, and contribute to the rich tradition of chess composition. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the competition's rules and delve into the specific thematic conditions set for this year’s edition, offering participants a clear understanding of the requirements and expectations.
Judging by the average age of chess composers worldwide, one might infer that composing problems and studies is the domain of the seasoned mind—a pursuit requiring patience, deep reflection, and a refined sense of aesthetics. Meanwhile, over-the-board play continues to evolve into a young player’s domain, where quick thinking, sharp reflexes, and fierce determination prevail. However, that said, for any art form to truly flourish, it must take root in the hearts and minds of younger generations, and chess composition is no exception. For chess composition to remain vibrant and relevant, it must be actively practiced, explored, and reimagined by fresh creative minds. Mere appreciation from a distance will not sustain it. The Youth Chess Composing Challenge (YCCC)—now in its 9th edition—was founded with this very purpose: to inspire and engage the next generation of problemists.
The YCCC is an individual competition open to young composers (under 23) from all countries. Established in 2016 by the Serbian Chess Problem Society, it became an integral part of the annual World Congress of Chess Composition (WCCC). In 2018, the World Federation for Chess Composition (WFCC) formed its Youth Committee, with the YCCC as one of its key priorities. Beyond organising the competition, the Youth Committee also serves as a resource, offering guidance and support to aspiring composers and trainers.
Rules
The 9th YCCC 2025 is open to participants from the U23 generation (born in 2002 or later), aligning with the age limit for juniors in WFCC solving competitions (WCSC, ECSC, ISC). This year, the YCCC features one section with a strict thematic condition (A – two-movers) and two open sections without set themes: (B – endgame studies) and (C – all types of compositions except orthodox endgames). Each participant may submit one entry per section, and joint works are not accepted.
According to the overall standings, the five most successful composers from five different countries (the top-ranked composer from each) will be awarded €500 vouchers to cover expenses for participation in the 2026 World Congress of Chess Composition & World Chess Solving Championship or the 2026 European Chess Solving Championship.
The overall standings for YCCC-9 will be determined by the total points earned across all three sections.
Points will be awarded as follows:
1st Place – 17 points, 2nd Place – 13 points, 3rd Place – 10 points, 4th Place – 8 points, 5th Place – 7 points, 6th Place – 6 points, 7th Place – 5 points, 8th Place – 4 points, 9th Place – 3 points, 10th Place – 2 points, Any other placement in the award – 1 point
In the event of a tie in the overall standings, the first tie-break will be the highest number of points achieved in a single section. If the tie persists, the second-highest score will be considered. If all three results are identical, the younger participant will be given priority. The vouchers for 2025 have been generously donated by the Fujairah Government. If a rewarded participant is unable to use their voucher, it will be offered to the next most successful composer in the overall standings, and so forth.
How to Prepare and Send Entries
1. Submission Requirements: Send your original, unpublished compositions on diagrams, including complete solutions and any relevant comments.
2. Deadline: Submissions must be sent no later than 15 May 2025.
3. Submission Email: Send your entries to the tournament director, Julia Vysotska, at yccc@wfcc.ch.
4. Additional Formats:
- If possible, include FEN notation for diagram positions.
- For endgames, submit your compositions in PGN format.
5. Soundness Check: It is highly recommended that you verify the correctness of your compositions using computer programs and mention the name of the software used.
6. Please include the following details along with your entries:
- Date of birth
- Place of residence
- A recent high-quality photo
Theme
As previously mentioned, Sections B and C have no set themes, while entries in Section A must be mate-in-2 compositions featuring a thematic white pawn on the seventh rank in the initial diagram position, serving the following roles:
(a) In the solution or in the try, the thematic white pawn guards one or more black king flights on the eighth rank.
(b) In the other phase (try or solution), the same white pawn promotes to a knight either on the mating move or on the first move. The knight promotion is mandatory, but participants may also incorporate queen promotion to enrich the content.
Example 01
Dejan Glišić, StrateGems, 2003
Try 1.d8=Q? zugzwang
1...h6 2.Qg8#
1...Kh6 2.Qg5#
But 1...h5! refutes.
Try 1.d8=N? threat: 2.Qg5#
1...h6 2.Qf5#
But again: 1...h5!
Solution: 1.Bh8! - zugzwang
1...Kh6 Qg5#
1...Kf7 Qe8#
1...h6 Qf5#
1...h5 Qg7#
Square e8 in the solution (2nd variation) is guarded by the thematic d7 pawn, which also promotes to a knight in one of the tries.
Example 02
David Shire, Die Schwalbe, 2025
Try 1.Re7? threat: 2.Re8#
1...Kxe7 2.d8=Q#
But: 1...Nf6!
Solution: 1.Ba7! threat: 2.Bb6#
1...Kc7 2.d8=N#
In both the try and the solution, squares c8 and e8 are guarded by the thematic d7 pawn. In the solution, this pawn promotes to a knight on the mating move.
Example 03
David Shire, Original for YCCC-9, 2025
Try 1.g8=N? threat: 2.Re7#
1...Nf5 2.gxf5#
but: 1...Ng6!
Try 1.g8=Q? threat: 2.Qe8#
1...Ng6 2.Qxf7#
1...Nf5 2.gxf5#
but: 1...Qa4!
Solution: 1.Nb7! threat: 2.Nd8#
1...b5 2.Nc5#
1...Ke7 2.Re5#
The thematic pawn is on g7, and it controls the flight square f8 (see second variation of the solution), whereas the knight promotion is shown in one of the tries.
Judges
Section A will be judged by David Shire.
Section B (Endgame Studies) will be evaluated by Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen and Gady Costeff, who will prioritise originality and clarity.
Section C will be assessed by a panel of experts, each specialising in different genres.
Literature on Composing
Below are some articles that will guide you in composing your first study or problem:
1. What is expected from an "original" problem - by Vlaicu Crisan
2. How we can start composing: The double epaulette mate! - by Vlaicu Crisan
3. In Boden's Den - by Anirudh Daga
4. Composing Endgame Studies - by Johan Hellsten
5. Composing a Study - by John Nunn
6. Strip or massage? Two ways of creating studies from games - by Steffen Nielsen
7. How to Compose an Endgame Study: A Step-by-step Guide (Part 1) - by Gady Costeff
Further Guidance
The YCCC Organising Team comprises some of the world’s finest composers and judges, all highly enthusiastic about mentoring younger colleagues. Participants are encouraged to reach out with any questions regarding the content, construction, or originality of their entries. Queries should be sent to yccc@wfcc.ch—preferably before 1 May—with the subject line "YCCC Questions."
Results
The results will be announced at the closing ceremony of the Alba Iulia WCCC 2025, on 11th July 2025, when the three winners of each section will receive medals and certificates. Complete awards will be published on the WFCC website, in the YCCC Project Section.
Be sure to check out the full official announcement of the event for complete details.
