This is a summary of the ChessBase India article “14-Year-Old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus Becomes Youngest 2700 in Chess History” by Devansh Singh (April 29, 2026). Many of the photos were taken by Selim Gürcan, Yağız's manager and the author of this site.
The youngest 2700 ever
Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş became the youngest player in chess history to reach 2700, at 14 years, 10 months and 13 days. He did it in the Clash of Generations match against former FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov in Monte Carlo (April 12–17, 2026), winning 5–1 and gaining 22.4 points to reach 2709.4 on the live list. After two draws for SC Viernheim in the German Bundesliga his published May 1 rating was 2708. He beat Wei Yi's record by nearly a year and reached 2700 faster than Firouzja, Gukesh and Carlsen. The match was organized by the Monte-Carlo Chess Federation, the Monte Carlo Chess Club and Turkish investor Evren Ucok.
Carlsen's verdict
At the 2025 World Rapid Championship in Doha, Erdoğmuş finished joint second in the rapid section on 8.5/11. In round twelve he faced Magnus Carlsen, who won a game that looked headed for a draw, and afterwards called him the best 14-year-old the world has ever seen.
The match with Topalov
This was the third Clash of Generations; Erdoğmuş had earlier beaten Peter Svidler 4–2 and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 3.5–2.5.
Game 1 was a long struggle that ended in a draw: Topalov had chances in the middlegame, but Erdoğmuş defended solidly.
Game 2 was won despite severe time trouble; he played most of the middlegame and endgame with seconds on the clock. After 36.Bf3+, Topalov put his king on c5 instead of b6, allowing a brilliant rook-sacrifice finish.
Game 3: Topalov played logically for a long time but was outplayed strategically, and a powerful rook lift decided it, making the score 2.5–0.5.
Game 4 was another long draw in which Erdoğmuş had endgame chances; the score was 3–1.
Game 5 was the decisive one: a win would clinch the match and make him the youngest 2700 ever. After wild time-scramble swings, Topalov missed a tactic that let Erdoğmuş neutralize his positional edge, then played 50.Qh6+, which fell short because his pieces were uncoordinated. Erdoğmuş finished with a neat mating pattern.
Game 6: his rooks penetrated, a knight check won two pawns and Topalov, facing a lost endgame, resigned, completing the 5–1 win.
The numbers
2700chess.com charts show his progress: 1171 at age six in December 2017, 2687 and world number 38 before the May list, and 2708 after a 21-point April. Next up was the Tepe Sigeman round-robin, where he would face Carlsen.
The people behind the rise
According to the article, Erdoğmuş nearly gave up chess for lack of support until Evren Ucok stepped in; he went from no grandmaster norms to the title. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov saw his potential and now devotes himself fully to coaching him. Ucok also supports young talents elsewhere with coaching, nutrition, psychological support and well-being programs.
The games
The moves come from the Lichess broadcast of the match.
Game 1: Topalov – Erdogmus 1/2-1/2
Game 2: Erdogmus – Topalov 1-0
Game 3: Topalov – Erdogmus 0-1
Game 4: Erdogmus – Topalov 1/2-1/2
Game 5: Topalov – Erdogmus 0-1
Game 6: Erdogmus – Topalov 1-0
Source: Devansh Singh, ChessBase India. Photos: Selim Gürcan/Monte-Carlo Chess Club, Shahid Ahmed, 2700chess.com.
