The highlight of the week's programme was the 23rd World Chess Solving Championship, which took place on 26th and 27th October. The event consists of six timed rounds, each featuring a different type of composition. Three problems must be solved in each round, and all variations must be given for each problem, in order to score maximum points. Teams of three compete, with the two highest scores for each round being combined to make the team total.
All scores count for the individual title.
The Great Britain team, consisting of the current British Solving Champion and 1997 World Champion Jonathan Mestel, and former British champions Graham Lee and Michael McDowell, emulated their performance at St. Petersburg 1998 by finishing 6th out of the 21 participating countries. Russia won the team title, ahead of Germany and Israel, who had won the previous three competitions. The title of World Solving Champion was won by Israeli solver Ofer Comay. Jonathan Mestel finished 13th, Michael McDowell 19th, and Graham Lee 32nd.