Chess gains popularity among old and young across Turkey

Incentives from the government, the contributions of the Turkish Chess Federation and increasing public awareness have led to a renaissance of chess playing and competition in Turkey. In 2005 the Ministry of Education signed a protocol designating chess as an elective course in all Turkish schools, to further the mental and physical development of children. Every year more and more students choose chess as an elective class, and now approximately 600,000 students are learning to play chess across the country every year.

Turkish chess students are taught by experienced teachers and can compete in championships after improving their theoretical and practical skills. The students tend to participate in competition more actively as the number of chess opportunities increases. The Turkish Chess Federation is considered among the most prominent chess federations and with its growing numbers has performed successfully in international competitive events around the world.

“The General Directorate for Youth and Sports and the Football Pools Organization Directorate [Spor Toto] allocated a large proportion of their budget for the national and overseas activities of our federation. We also work together with municipalities and local government to maintain participation in our activities and to increase public awareness. Turkey has a great power in its young population, and with students who can think analytically and quickly to solve problems we can become a much more developed and dynamic country,” said Hulusi Cihangir, the Turkish Chess Federation’s representative in Ankara.

According to World Chess Federation (FIDE) statistics, Russia, Ukraine, France, China and Hungary are the most five successful countries in chess competitions, and Turkey’s level rises every year. In Turkey, a large proportion of professional chess players are under age 16. Turkey’s national chess team is really going strong at the world championship level. In the past five years, they have won 130 medals for our country and on July 22, by beating countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Germany, our national youth chess team came second in the European Youth Chess Championship.

The benefits of playing chess cannot be denied. Research shows that there are differences between chess-playing students and their non-chess-playing peers. Chess develops concentration because during the game a player’s sole focus is on checkmating the opponent. When playing chess, you must decide when it is best to play certain pieces and keep your king safe at all times, while not creating weaknesses in your position, so chess develops logical thinking and decision making in every part of life. Chess enhances one’s ability to interact with other people, because it is a test of patience and nerves. It also develops self-confidence, imagination and creativity.