Award in SuperProblem - 2024 Informal Tourney | Selfmates
Published: December 20, 2025 Опубликовано: 20 декабря 2025 The last year (2024) 28 authors from 13 countries (Alexey Gasparyan (ARM); Vidadi Zamanov (AZE); Mikhail Khramtsevich and Viktor Volchek (both BLR); Borislav Atanasov (BUL); Miroslav Svitek (CZE); Dimitris Liakos (GRE); János Csák and Béla Majoros (both HUN); Daniele Gatti (ITA); Sergey Smotrov (KAZ); Boško Milošeski (MKD); Yuri Arefyev, Sergey Evko, Aleksandr Feoktistov, Grigory Filin, Yuri Gorbatenko, Mikhail Kostylev†, Aleksandr Kotov, Aleksandr Kuzovkov, Aleksandr Pankratiev, Anatoly Slesarenko, Anatoly Stëpochkin, Luka Tyrtyshnikov, Viktor Zheglov and Nikolaj Zujev (all RUS); Jozef Holubec (SVK); and Steven B. Dowd (USA)) participated in the informal tourney of SuperProblem with a total of 45 selfmates: F363 – F407 (including the version 381a), of which 5 are cooked, including two cooked “corrections” of F365. The above quantity is not accompanied by a high overall quality because the majority of the 37 selfmates in 4-n moves were simple and/or thematically weak, while the shorter selfmates and the 4 selfmates in 4 moves seem better on average.
1st Prize – F386 Aleksandr Kuzovkov (Russia) This problem shows interesting white-black correspondence play: W2 – triple play by the front piece of the wB/wR-battery (the author refers to it as ¾ of a bishop-star); B2 – arrival of the bK to 3 different squares; W3 – triple play by the wQ; B3 – arrival of the bK to 3 different squares; W4 – a final Bristol move by wRd3 (x 3); and B4 – triple capture of the sacrificed wR by bicolour (Bristol-like) clearance. In spite of the initial déjà vu, my subsequent anticipation search revealed that the earlier published problems are sufficiently distinctive. For example: the author’s earlier combination of bicolour bR-wR clearance (with pinning of the first of the bRs and without white Bristol!) and play by a wR/wB-battery which is placed out of the thematic clearance line (unlike F386), that scored only 5th H.M. in the StrateGems 2021 informal tourney and well-deserved 8.5 points in the process of selecting it for the FIDE Album 2019-2021 (yacpdb/527507) is quite different and does not resemble any similarity with F386 apart from the presence of the said themes; while Petko A. Petkov’s 1st Pr. diagrammes 1995 (yacpdb/306743), in spite of being thematically more intensive than F386 because of its double threefold Bristol clearance wQd7-wRe7-wRf7, does not involve white battery play. Turning back to F386, although it is obvious both to solving and composing experts that the bRd2/bBe1-battery would have to deliver the mates, this does not diminish the depth and overall elegance (spoiled, however, by the ugly capturing move 2.Bxc4+) of the clearance of the d-file. The option key (in light of the try by the key piece 1.Sa8? Bxc4!) and the reasonably good construction and economy contribute to the good overall impression. 2nd Prize – F384 Anatoly Slesarenko (Russia) The prominent #2-expert demonstrates his craft by showing fivefold activation of the black half-battery with five royal battery mates (the later aspect makes the battery “incomplete” because bSg6 does not give a mate, but that does not detract much from the overall impression). In such a context, F384 cannot be considered inferior in comparison with s#3s which show a bigger amount of mates by a royal battery which exists in the initial position (such as the seven royal battery mates in the otherwise quite different s#3 by Andrey Selivanov, 1st Pr. Polish Chess Federation 2024 (in memory of E. Iwanow)). The good key triggers 4 defences, of which three (one random and two correction) moves by bSg6 are particularly attractive. Even though the author labelled the play in the variations as if it belongs to a “1st system“ (after 1...exf6 and Sg~) and a “2nd system” (after 1...Se5! and 1...Sf4!), it should be noted that the black and white play in the first pair of variations is not fully matched (unlike the white and black play on the same respective square in the second pair of variations), so Adabashev synthesis does not feature here. The construction and economy are satisfying, notwithstanding that, apart from the necessary plug on g8 and the soundness-ensuring wPg7, the author properly chose to employ another plug in order to prevent a dual W2 after one of the bS’s jumps (without bBf8, the defence 1...Sf8 would result in the dual 2.Qc5+ & 2.Bxe6+). 3rd Prize – F395 Aleksandr Feoktistov (Russia) Main actors in the first variation are the rear white battery piece wBh5 (which participates in the battery firing on W2 and sacrifices itself on W4 in order to decoy the bK to f3) and the front battery piece wRg4 and wSc4 with their involvement in the Klasinc theme [1.Sc4-b2! (a line opening move) … 2.Rg4-xb4+! (a move on the thematic line through the square c4] … 3.Sb2-c4 (switchback on the thematic square)] and square vacation/occupation [2.Rg4-xb4+! … 6.Se5-g4+]. In the second variation, after the bK’s arrival to the square that was granted by the splendid flight-giving key, there is also battery firing (though this time on W3) and arrival of white pieces on squares that are vacated by other white pieces [1.Sc4-b2! … 4(or 5).Sb6-c4+ … 6.Rd6-b6!). Such differences of tactical elements and motifs between the two variations would have amounted to a reproachable disharmony of play if it weren’t for the problem’s length, which sometimes makes difficult to achieve a full harmony. On the other hand, such a handicap is turned into an advantage from a solving point of view, because one cannot rely on the play in the main thematic variation as a hint. The triple threat after 1...Ke3 2.Rxd6! (3.S2c4+, 3.S6c4+, 3.Bg6) is immaterial because 2...Kf3 successfully defends and allows a new W3 by a wR’s move to a seemingly unlikely square where bPh3 will be forced to capture the wR in zugzwang that is created after rude and yet inherent capture of bB on W7.
4th Prize – F382 Sergey Smotrov (Kazakhstan) A pendulum manoeuvre with switchbacks by white pieces transfers the white Rook from h7 to e7 in order to prevent the bK to escape to e5 and e6. The white play is forced because a checkless move Rh7-e7 in the beginning is too “slow” and can be easily defeated by several black defences. The said absence of a quiet white move (which is a hallmark of the opus of this author) undermines the otherwise positive impression and gives a rather formal meaning to the logical character of this otherwise nice selfmate. Nevertheless, this complex and interesting manoeuvre and its economical rendering deserve a high place in the award. 1st Honourable Mention – F385 Vidadi Zamanov (Azerbaijan) & Viktor Volchek (Belarus) The quite aggressive capturing key (which seems inevitable in the present position) is followed by firing of the newly-created wS/wR-battery with somewhat varied strategy, which forces pinning of black pieces: bPg6 in the threat (4...gxf4?? is impossible because this bP is pinned on g5); bBd1 after 1...Bf3 … 2...Bd5 (3...Bc4?? is impossible because the bB is pinned on d5, but the threatened W4 is on the b5 square that is beyond an immediate reach of bB, which self-blocks the c6 square in the sub-variation 1...f5/g5); and bRg3 after 1...fxg5 … 3...Re5 (4...Rxe4?? is impossible because the bR is pinned on e5). The four mates by the bR/bB-battery are a good unifying factor, but the insufficiently harmonious white play is not sufficient to elevate F385 higher in the award. 2nd Honourable Mention – F375 Steven B. Dowd (USA) An interesting Fata morgana, in which the short set play mate is disrupted by a flight-granting key. The solution involves quite dynamic and rich play in the sub-variations, without any repetition of white moves and with acceptable repetition of one mate by arrival of the bQ to b7 from different departure squares in response to the changed sacrifice (by wB or wQ) on this square. The economy of two final positions (model mate) in the set play and the first line of the actual play (with the bK on a6 and the wK on c8) is a good bonus.
3rd Honourable Mention – F399 Viktor Zheglov (Russia) An impressive aristocratic black minimal miniature with the following tactical and strategic elements in three variations of the same length: a) switchbacks: a1) by the wB on b2 and a3 after 1...Kc5; a2) by the wQ on e5 after 1...Ka5; and a3) by the wQ on e2 after 1...Rd3; b) pinning of the bR: b1) by the wB on the b2-e5 and a3-c5 lines and by the wQ on the c2-c6 line after 1...Kc5; b2) by the wQ on the e5-a5, e7-c5, c7-c5 and e5-b5 lines after 1...Ka5; and b3) by the wQ on the e2-b5, e5-c5, e2-b5 and e6-b6 lines after 1...Rc4; and c) model mates; of which: c1) 13...Rxa4# and 13...Rxa5# are chameleon echo mates; and c2) 13...Rxa5# and 13...Rxd8# are echo mates. F399 is also notable for its interesting and quiet play, including arrivals of the wK to the board’s edges. Viktor Zheglov established himself as one of the leading authors of selfmate aristocratic dynamic Bohemian miniatures in 10 or more moves and, indeed, his decently good representation in the latest printed FIDE Album for the 2019-2021 period confirms this stance. His output includes several aristocratic black minimal miniatures with ostensibly similar pinning and unpinning of a black Rook and 3 or 4 echo and chameleon echo model selfmates that use wQ + 2 wRs + wB (S#10, Spec. H.M. Viktor Chepizhny JT (Uralsky Problemist website) 2024, yacpdb/662692; Spec. Comm. Viktor Chepizhny JT (Uralsky Problemist website) 2024, yacpdb/662705), or a similar material such as wQ + wR + 2 wBs (S#10, SuperProblem 2017 (yacpdb/450017; S#11, Spec. Pr. Moscow concourse 2018, yacpdb/461943; S#12, SuperProblem 2017, yacpdb/450018; S#12, Sem' shahmatnyh not (February) 2018, yacpdb/445169; S#12, Sem' shahmatnyh not (April) 2018, yacpdb/463170; S#13, 1st Comm. Vladimir Zheltonozhko – 75 JT 2017, yacpdb/438150; S#13, Sem' shahmatnyh not (May) 2018, yacpdb/463182), but none of them is a predecessor to F399. Those who are fond of more thematic or focused strategy (which traditionally features in shorter moremovers) and prefer “human touch” over supposed author’s reliance on computers in designing the content might not sufficiently appreciate the technical virtuosity and elegance of such lightweights. Taking into account the overall familiarity of the concept (which is tantamount to reading a long novel with a fairly familiar plot and an expected outcome) as a detrimental factor and the artistic and technical merit of the problem as a valuable asset, I decided to place F399 in the middle of the award. 4th Honourable Mention – F373 Steven B. Dowd (USA) A well-constructed Fata morgana with a model mate in the set play and a round-trip (rundlauf) of the wQ in a form of triangle (h4-f6-f2-h4) and an economical mate in the solution. I hope that there is no anticipation. 5th Honourable Mention – F374 Anatoly Stepochkin (Russia) Fata morgana with model mates in the set and actual play. The solution includes double arrival of different white pieces on f8, including a delayed sacrifice of a promoted piece on its promotion square without having moved latter (Schnoebelen theme) and delayed arrival of the front battery piece (wR) on the vacated square. The capture of wQf6 on the last move takes place only after promotion of a wQ on b8, thus no Phoenix theme exists here (unlike ostensibly similar, but in fact quite different S#13 by the same author, Schach in Schleswig-Holstein 09/2024, P1421446 in the PDB). The interesting and seldom shown combinations of the above themes justifies the inclusion of this problem in the award.
Spec. Honourable Mention – F398 Viktor Zheglov (Russia) A long-range key by wRc1 creates zugzwang and allows three variations and model mates, of which the mate on g7 with wK on e8 after 1...Sg3(Sg7) and the mate on f7 with wK on d8 after 1...Sf4 … 2...Sd3 are chameleon echo, while the mate on f7 with wK on h8 after 1...Sf4 … 2...Ke5 and the mate on c7 with wK on e8 after 1...Sf6 are near-chameleon echo. Pinning of bS on different lines allows interesting quiet moves and attractive manoeuvres, including the expected arrivals of the wK on the 8th rank (twice on e8, and once on h8 or d8) and less expected manoeuvres by wSf2 (Sf2-h1!-g3-h5…-g7 after 1...Sg3(Sg7); Sf2-e4-d6…-f7 after 1...Sf4 ... 2...Ke5; Sf2-e4-g5!…-f7 after 1...Sf4 ... 2...Sd3; and Sf2-e4-c3!-b5…-c7 after 1...Sf6). The drawback of a promoted wQ in this dynamic Bohemian does not exist in Viktor Zheglov’s S#16, 3rd Pr. Shakhmatnaya kompozitsiya 2019 (yacpdb/483288), which has a similar material (wR+wR+wQ+wS vs. bS), but only two chameleon echo mates. F398 scored only 5.5 mates in the WCCI 2022-2024, but perhaps it will be more successful in the forthcoming selection for the FIDE Album 2022-2024?! 1st Commendation – F376 Jozef Holubec (Slovakia) An interesting and reasonably well-matched non-repetitive play by white pieces (the repeated mate is acceptable) with interferences of white lines by white pieces and white battery creation that contribute to decoying the black King to c3, following which a selfmate is forced by different white 10th moves on d2. This content, the interesting twinning and the acceptable economy justify the inclusion of F376 in the award. 2nd Commendation – F392 Jozef Holubec (Slovakia) The author’s fondness of moremover twins was demonstrated in a technically acceptable form, even though the content is devoid of meaningful strategy. The black monarch’s decoy in a) supports the mate on d2 by guarding this square, which necessitates a white self-block on f2, and in b) it supports the mate on f2 by guarding this square, which necessitates a white self-block on d2. The pinning of bBf4 (static in the first twin and on the h-file in the second twin) ensures welcome quiet play by white pieces. I express my gratitude to the editorial board of SuperProblem for entrusting me to judge the informal tourney for 2024. I also thank the composers who supported this tourney by submitting their original chess compositions and I congratulate the successful authors whose entries are included in the above award of this prominent Russian online outlet, wishing to all of them many more successes in their future endeavours. Judge: Zoran Gavrilovski (North Macedonia) December 20, 2025Судья: Зоран Гавриловски (Северная Македония) 20.12.2025 |
  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||