Turkish Chess Championships 2012
By WGM Anastasiya Karlovich
The Turkish Chess Championships for men and women started on January 29th,
2012 in Kemer (Antalya), Turkey. The tournament is a ten round Swiss and will
end February 5th.
The rating favourites are GM Dragan Solak, GM Baris Esen, GM Emre Can. The
tournament boasts with 309 participants in the men's section (a whopping 52
more than last year!). This includes 19 titled players – so the title is really
up for grabs. An important new contender of this event is GM Solak, who recently
completed the transfer from his native Serbian Chess Federation to the Turkish
Chess Federation and is going to represent the Turkish national team in the
next Olympiad.
The women's championships attracted 69 ladies, including WIM Betul Yildiz,
and Turkey's new WGM, Kubra Ozturk, who just recently got her last WGM norm.
WIM Betul Yildiz looking to defend her title and earn a fair share of the
impressive prizes
Turkey continues showing its growing support of chess, and especially of women's
chess, by having impressive prize funds in both the men and women sections.
The Turkish Chess Federation together with the general sponsor, Is Bank, have
provided a prize fund of roughly €12,500 in the men's tournament. The women's
event is being sponsored again by Arzum Small Home Appliances Company, who has
been generous towards this event since 2009. Arzum has provided about TL 45,000
– which is roughly €20,000. The prizes include products (around €4300) as well
as monetary prizes (around €7500). On top of that more than 20 of the women
players received free accommodation in the 5-star Limra Hotel from this sponsorship.
Pictorial impressions by Anastasiya Karlovich
The weather in Kemer has been fabulous, with temperatures of 10 to 15 °C.
Some visitors of the Lima Hotel were not afraid to lie in the sun.
Trainers of the TCF Adrian Mikhalchishin and Mikhail Gurevich relax with
some
traditional Turkish chay in the beach bar
President of TCF Ali Nihat Yazici with the former and current champions of
Turkey
during the opening ceremony
The beautiful playing venue
Seen from a different angle
A new member of the Turkish Federation, Dragan Solak, shows his strength
– with a perfect 4/4
The game Solak-Kilic got a lot of attention. The former Serbian demonstrated
his
powerful rook endgame technique and converted a small advantage into a full
point.
Former Turkish Champion IM Umut Atakisi was also 100% after four rounds
GM Baris Esen had 3.5 points after four rounds
Current Turkish Champion GM Emre Can
Player of the national team Sanal Vahap is also one of the leaders with four
points
CM Batuhan Daştan with 3.5 points after four rounds
Cahit Başaran 2.5 out of four
WIM Betul Yilzdiz is the defending national women's champion
WGM Kubra Ozturk plays on the second board for the National Team
Ezgi Menzi is a Turkish chess talent and successful student at Mersin
TED High School
Seray Tulay is a bronze medallist for Girls U-17
Melis Temel's fierce concentration gave her a bronze medal for girls U-12
Duru Okuyaz with her mother before the start of the round
Leylahan Ar from Mardin
Yasemin Turan from Mardin
Fatma Ozturk and Zeynep Yetisgin from our press team
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