A young prodigy might be the main character. He is known for his quick thinking and amazing skills in chess. When faced with this special chess problem, he has to use all his talent and intuition to find a solution.
The short story might revolve around a group of chess enthusiasts who are challenged with a seemingly unsolvable chess problem. They each bring their own unique approach and knowledge to the table, leading to a series of interesting discussions and attempts at solving it, which in turn reveals a lot about their characters and relationships.
You could make the solving of the chess problem a key plot point that drives the story forward. Maybe the main character has to solve it to save someone or unlock a mystery.
For a chess problem short story to be interesting, it needs a combination of strategic chess moves and character development. Also, a twist or unexpected outcome can add excitement.
I don't know for sure since I haven't read it, but they could be the two players in the chess game.
Typically, the main characters are the chess players themselves. There could be a protagonist who is deeply involved in the chess world and maybe an antagonist who challenges the protagonist in the game.
One possible theme could be struggle. Since the man has a problem, he must be struggling to overcome it or deal with it in some way.
The two main characters are Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty. Holmes is the brilliant detective, and Moriarty is his equally brilliant but evil nemesis. Watson also plays an important role as Holmes' friend and the narrator of the story.
Given that we don't have the full details of this short story, it's hard to determine the main characters precisely. However, the man himself is the obvious main character. There could be a love interest, perhaps, who is affected by the man's problem. Maybe there's also a mentor - like figure who offers advice or guidance to the man. For example, if the man's problem is career - related, this mentor could be an older colleague with more experience.
The main character could be an office worker. At 12:02 pm, they might be taking a short break from their work. Maybe they overhear a conversation that makes them suspect some unethical behavior in the company. So they start to dig deeper, facing many obstacles along the way, such as colleagues who try to stop them and a lack of evidence. But they are determined to find the truth because of their sense of justice.
A businessperson could also be the main character. They are on a visit for work - related reasons, like meeting with clients or inspecting a new branch. And during this visit, they face various challenges and experiences that form the story.