In this video, FM Selim Gürcan celebrates a historic result for Turkish chess: 12-year-old Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş became the world's youngest grandmaster, collecting his third grandmaster norm in a row.
Three norms in three tournaments
Yağız earned three grandmaster norms in his last three tournaments, two of them strong open events and one in Arabia with a very strong field. At 12 years and 9 months he completed the title, which makes him one of the youngest grandmasters in history (fourth youngest ever, according to Chess.com's reporting). Selim notes that this puts a Turkish player ahead of rivals from India, China, the USA and Russia.
How the support came
The video explains that after a sponsor withdrew, the family seriously considered giving up chess and focusing on school. Then Evren Ucok stepped in. Selim recalls that Evren was a school chess champion in Turkey, later moved to the United States, became a businessman and invested in sectors such as space, medicine and technology. When his business life eased, he looked for ways to support chess and found Yağız. With almost unlimited support, Yağız earned three norms in a row.
The people behind the title
Selim thanks everyone involved: Yağız's parents Selahattin and Gülsüm Erdoğmuş, GM Mert Erdogdu, who gave hundreds of hours of lessons, Barış Esen and Hasan Kılıç for opening work, Selim himself through the Chess Mastery Course book, and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who supports Yağız with all his strength. The goal, he says, is not just a super grandmaster but a world champion from Türkiye. He also calls on businesspeople who once played chess to support the many young Turkish talents who need help.
The decisive game: Erdoğmuş – Nothnagel
In the final round Yağız needed a win for his third norm. With White he played the Ruy Lopez, built a central pawn duo after exchanges and kept a comfortable edge against Marian Can Nothnagel (2381), before converting the position; Black resigned after 35.Ne5. The moves come from the Lichess broadcast of the GRENKE Chess Open.
Watch the video
Video: Satranç Okulu, narrated by FM Selim Gürcan (April 1, 2024).
