The Winton Capital British Chess Solving Championship (WCBCSC) is run annually by the British Chess Problem Society (BCPS). It is sponsored by Winton Capital Management. As well as a cash prize and a trophy, the winner receives a guaranteed place in the British team for the next World Chess Solving Championship (WCSC). Currently, the competition is only open to solvers resident in Great Britain.
The competition is in three rounds, The Starter Round , The Postal Round and The Final .
The Starter Round consists of one two-move chess problem for solution and is sent for publication to as many British chess magazines and chess columns as I know about - currently 114. They publish the starter problem during June and July and competitors must post their entries (just White's first move) to me by the end of July. Competitors are asked to enclose their entry fee and a stamped addressed envelope. They are also asked to indicate where they saw the starter problem published. This last piece of information is used to decide the winners of the annual Editors' Competition. In this, the three editors encouraging the most entries are presented with a small cash prize.
Those competitors who get the starter problem correct are sent the Postal Round. All competitors are sent a full solution to the starter problem.
The Postal Round is also sent to 'seeded' competitors. They are solvers who have won a prize in any previous Final.
From the next competition (2000-2001) I intend to publish the starter problem here on this web site and to accept email entries.
The Postal Round normally consists of 8 diagrams for solution. It is normally made up of directmates, endgame studies, selfmates and helpmates. Competitors have until the end of November to post their solutions to me. They are asked to enclose a stamped addressed envelope with their entries.
There is no preset pass mark for the Postal Round; it is redefined every year based on the accommodation available at the Final venue and the points scored by the competitors. Currently, I try to invite about 40 solvers to the Final. This number includes the defending champion, who is the only person who gets free entry to the Final.
The format of the final is changed as with 2002-2003, to enable it to be internationally recognised as acceptable for rating and the winning of solving norms. Despite these changes the event will only attract norms and be rated if rated solvers of the relevant strength take part.
The Final, which starts at 12:30 pm., is rather like a written exam, but chess boards and sets
are provided and you are allowed to move the pieces! Solvers have to
participate in six timed rounds as follows:-
| Round | Content | Minutes | Points |
| 1 | 3 Mates in 2 (#2) | 20 | 4 + 4 + 4 |
| 2 | 2 Mates in 3 (#3) | 40 | 6 + 6 |
| 3 | 2 endgame studies (+/=) | 60 | 10 + 10 |
| 4 | 2 Helpmates (H#) | 25 | 4 + 8 |
| 5 | 2 Moremovers (#n) | 55 | 6 + 6 |
| 6 | 2 Selfmates (S#) | 30 | 4 + 8 |
At 17:15 solving ends and a buffet is served. During this the marking is completed. The prize-giving occurs as soon after 18:00 as it can be organised.
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