A New Plan!

The International Solving Contest (ISC) takes place every year on a Sunday in the second half of January, bringing together chess enthusiasts from around the world. Experts and amateurs alike sit down at approximately the same time, united by a shared passion for chess and the challenge of solving problems.

The event is divided into three categories. Category 1 is intended for highly experienced solvers, Category 2 for those with relatively less experience, and Category 3 for juniors under the age of 13. In 2026, India hosted the ISC at 11 locations, drawing a record 383 participants across all the three categories. Next year, it will once again take place in multiple Indian cities, with ChessBase India spearheading the organisation at some of them, tentatively in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

It is against this backdrop that we are launching Mission ISC 2027. The idea is simple: to spread awareness of chess composition and solving, introduce more chess players to this fascinating side of the game, and help them develop the skills and confidence needed to take part and do well in the ISC next year.

ISC 2026, Mumbai.

What Will We Do?

So, here’s our three-point roadmap:

  1. We will organise a series of online webinars to systematically explore the various genres of chess problems, along with the typical patterns, themes, and ideas that solvers encounter in each of them. Each webinar will cost just Rs 50, and anyone from across the country is welcome to join.

  2. We will conduct mock offline events in selected cities — for instance, we recently held one in Ichalkaranji — to give players plenty of opportunities to practise in a real contest-like environment and receive valuable feedback.

  3. We will share plenty of free, curated material through social media and our WhatsApp channel, giving aspiring solvers easy access to useful resources for learning and practice.

How to Join?

The easiest way to stay updated on the activities we conduct as part of Mission ISC 2027 is to follow the ChessKala WhatsApp Channel. Registration links for the webinars and the offline competitions will also be shared there.

Contact

This initiative is headed by Satanick Mukhuty, Chess Composition Editor at ChessBase India. You can reach out to him directly on WhatsApp for any queries or further information.