Regulations          Starting List           Pairings&Results      

PGN   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13

Picture Gallery         Cross Table        Standings       ELO Report

Closing Ceremony

1.GM Mikhail Gurevich

The closing ceremony took at the same place as the tournament hall, Nevzat Süer Hall in Atatürk Chess Center. A brief speech was delivered by Deputy President of Turkish Chess Federation, Murat Kul remarking the increasing number of titled players from 2001 to 2008 and also congratulating young Mustafa Yılmaz for his IM norm.  He stated that the presence of two elite grandmasters is an asset for Turkish Championship and the youngsters playing in.

2.GM Suat Atalık

3.IM Mert Erdoğdu

GM Mikhail Gurevich was absent from the closing ceremony since he had a flight earlier and received his trophy beforehand.

Round 13: Misha Claims the Title, Erdoğdu Gets the Bronze

Aydın Duman in action

Gurevich clinched the second Turkish Championship title after his early draw against FM Ata Seçer. Mustafa Yılmaz was a pawn down but had two powerful bishops in an unorthodox endgame against Aydin Duman, well-known trainer around Turkey from Mersin. IM Mert Erdoğdu won against FM Alper Efe Ataman, the owner of Analiz publications, the only Turkish chess-publishing company, and got the third place. Erdoğdu is against the most successful player in Turkish Championship after 2007 where he got the silver medal after the play-off matches, after Suat Atalık who won the event. Burak Fırat, the youngster from İzmir won against Ali Ekber Doğan and completed the event with a win. Haznedaroğlu, who had a disappointing result won against Muhittin Büker another player from Ankara after converting his early material advantage. Kılıçaslan-Erdoğan the match of youth trainers ended as a win for the former.

Left: FM Alper Efe Ataman and Cengiz İnce(arbiter) checking the game between Duman and Yılmaz Right:FM Ata Seçer kibitzing the post-mortem between Ali Ekber Doğan and his pupil Burak Fırat.

Round 12: Gurevich Close to His Second Title

Gurevich won against IM Haznedaroğlu who is clearly not in his best form. Misha outplayed his opponent in the English and reached 11 points. His closest follower, Suat Atalık has 10 points. However, the owner of the third place is far from being clear. Mert Erdoğdu is at 7.5 followed by Yılmaz, FM Çıtak and FM Seçer at 7 points.Suat Atalık won against IM Kılıçaslan in a slow-pace but instructive endgame. Selim Çıtak won against Doğan, the underdog of the event and the the last moves he made in the game are below:

40...Rf3! 41.Rh1 Bh3 0-1

IM Erdoğdu won a crucial game against the youngster from İzmir, Burak Fırat to reach 7.5 points and now has advantage for the third place. Aydın Duman-Ata Seçer game ended as a draw. Hakan Erdoğan, the experienced former Turkish champion won against the bright youngster Mustafa Yılmaz and damaged his dreams to get a medal in his first Turkish Championship.

Round 11: Dragon Day

Gurevich won against FM Alper Efe Ataman and his sole lead continued with 10 points while the other grandmaster, Suat Atalık won against Mustafa Yılmaz and avoided a another suprise since the youngster won against Gurevich. Erdoğdu won against Ali Ekber Doğan after having a very good endgame typically advantageous for white and you can see the route that he made for his king below:

The long voyage of Erdoğdu's king

Ata Seçer forget an important subtlety in Dragon, advancing a3 which caused him great problems on board, though he had chances the equalize:

17...Rc3 18.Bc3 Qa2 19.Kc1 b4 20.Bd4 Ne4 21.Be4 Bd4 22.Rd4 Qa1 23.Kd2 Qh1

Mustafa Yılmaz versus Grandmaster Suat Atalık.

Ata Seçer(right), Burak Fırat (left) and Alper Efe Ataman (sitting)

IM Haznedaroğlu was another victim of Dragon executed by Aydın Duman and ended Haznedaroğlu's intentions to make a comeback for the fight for the third spot.

Gurevich chose to make an agressive sacrifice instead of outplaying his opponent in the endgame which is very unlikely of him but his opponent, FM Ataman lost his way in the tactical complications:

21...Bh3 22.gh3 Rbd8 23.Be3 Rd4 24.fe5 (24.Bd4 seems to be a better defence here) Rd1 25.Qd1 Qh3 and afterwards black went on to win.

Round 10: Gurevich Hangs on At Top

Gurevich won against the youngster Burak Fırat to preserve his lead followed by GM Suat Atalık who won against FM Ata Seçer. Mustafa Yılmaz who already produced an IM-norm drew against FM Çıtak. Here is the end of the coup carried out by Haznedaroğlu against Erdoğan:

32...Ne2 0-1

Alper Efe Ataman was able to make a comeback against a miserable position after the opening and won against Aydın Duman. IM Erdoğdu drawn against Büker which was not only a surprise but fortunate for him since he was almost losing.

Burak Fırat completed his kibitzing session to Doğan-Kılıçaslan game

Post-mortem sessions at Kahraman Olgaç library in Turkish Chess Federation Headquarter in Ankara, Atatürk Chess Centre.

Round 9: GM Atalık Concedes Draw Against IM Haznedaroğlu

GM Mikhail Gurevich won against IM Erdoğdu to extend his lead to one points having collected 8 points in 9 rounds while his closest follower failed to win against IM Kıvanç Haznedaroğlu who has two GM-norms in 2007. IM Haznedaroğlu played a variation similar to Milner-Barry Gambit and produced some compensation against two pawns which later on melted down to a drawn ending with one pair of rooks and opposite-colored bishops. Mustafa Yılmaz won against IM Kılıçaslan to get his first IM-norm after recently rising over 2300-barrier and acquired the FIDE Master the title. Gurevich, showed his superior endgame practice after outplaying IM Erdoğdu this time.

Round 8: Gurevich and Atalık Head-to-Heat

Mikhail Gurevich won against Muhittin Büker of Ankara and led the event with 7 points. Suat Atalık also won against FM Ataman to reach 6.5 points. FM Ata Seçer lost his shared second place after drawing against IM Kılıçaslan. FM Seçer is now at the third place alone with 6.5 points.

Mustafa Yılmaz checking IM Mert Erdoğdu's game

IM Kıvanç Haznedaroğu who has two GM norms

No need for further info: GM Suat Atalık

Burak Fırat

IM Erdoğdu about to sip tea while Aydın Duman deeply contemplating

 Round 7: Doğan Misses Draw Against GM Gurevich

Youngster Fırat Tackles GM Atalık Resulting Gurevich Taking the Sole Lead

GM Mikhail Gurevich able to take the sole lead despite his shocking loss to Mustafa Yılmaz in round 1.

Burak Fırat did not allow his experienced and much stronger opponent to take the initiative and win and tackled his hopes to win his second consecutive Turkish Championship title. GM Mikhail Gurevich won against Ali Ekber Doğan but if his oppoenent rated 635 ratings lower then him noticed that he can force a draw than this would have been another major upset for Misha Gurevich.

Ata Seçer won a crucial game against Mustafa Yılmaz who has had a magnificent tournament so far. In a sharp and complex endgame with both sides having a strong play the youngster from Ankara chose the wrong way and lost.

Left: Many spectators in the hall, a dream realized Right: CM Cemil Can Ali Marandi (world champion in world schools championship under 9 checking the games of the strongest players in Turkey

Left: Gurevich, chatting to the chief arbiter of the tournament Cem Yıldırım Right: Gurevich ve Ali Ekber Doğan shaking hands

If black played 33...Qe1 here, after  34.Re1 (34.Kh2 Bg1 35.Kh1 Bf2 and no way out from the perpetual) 34...Re1 35.Kh2 Bg1 36.Kh1(36.Kg3 does not save white king from the trap due to Bf2 var) Bf2 , white had nothing to do but had to be content with the draw.

GM Suat Atalık

FM Ata Seçer on his win against Mustafa Yılmaz

Mustafa Yılmaz did not choose the wisest move her and played Ne5 . He lost the game after a couple of moves.

Left: Mustafa Yılmaz Right: IM Mert Erdoğdu

IM Mert Erdoğdu played 2.Nf3 but where is he? Oh, he is just looking at the other games

Round 6: IM Haznedaroğlu Stops the Youngster Yılmaz

Kıvanç Haznedaroğlu won against Mustafa Yılmaz and put an end to his sole lead. Gurevich won against FM Erdoğan while Burak Fırat, the other youngster from the under-16 generation won against FM Selim Çıtak in a sharp Semi-Slav. The grandmasters did not let any surprise to happen.

Ali Ekber Doğan versus FM Ata Seçer and the final part of the game below:

White's last move was 34.Qc7 which enabled black to make an effective sacrifice, collecting many pawns against white's extra knight: 34...Ng3! 35.hg3 Qg3 36.Kf1 Qf3 37.Kg1 Qe3 38.Kg2 Qf3 39.Kg1 g3 40.Qe5 f6 41.Qe1

FM Hakan Erdoğan enjoying his rare occasion of arriving earlier than his opponent to the tournament (Generally it's him who gets to the tournament hall much later than anybody else). He took silver medal on his board back in European Team Championship in Batumi 1999.

IM Haznedaroğlu checking what intentions young Mustafa has. The Ankara derby, the strongest players from Ankara, the capital of Turkey was won by Kıvanç Haznedaroğlu.

FM Alper Efe Ataman vs. IM Hasan Kılıçaslan (two youth national team trainers)

FM Selim Çıtak had a difficult game against Burak Fırat

FM Çıtak played 20.e5 her against Fırat but we are still not sure after a post-mortem session if he should have prepared d5 or not. Black had a strong counter starting with an attack to the white's pawn centre:

20...f6! 21.ef6 Nf6 22.Qe6 Qc7 23.ab5 ab5 24.Rdc1 (Bf3 might have been a better option as concluded by post-mortem and approved by computers. ) Qd6 25.Qe1 Rc8 (placing the rook to an open file and avoiding any sacrifice on b5) 

26.Bb5 (trying the chance) Ng4 (no way!) 0-1

Round 5: Rising Comet Still at Top:

Mustafa Yılmaz produced a nice win against FM Alper Efe Ataman, his trainer from the youth national teams and continued his lead in front of GMs Atalık and Gurevich who had 4 points against Mustafa's 4.5 Gurevich won against Erdoğan while Atalık won comfortable against Büker. FM Seçer won a crucial game against Haznedaroğlu after a blitzkrieg counter-attack starting with Bd2 exploiting Haznedaroğlu's choice of losing some tempi for the sake of making a slow maneuvre.

13....e5! 14.de5 Nfd7 15.e4 Ne5 16.Bf4 (Mustafa says that lesser evil was 16.ed5 despite it looks very ugly) 16...Nbc6

Post-mortem, Yılmaz showing a variation he saw to FM Ataman. IM Erdoğdu also kibitzing

Haznedaroğlu played Rab1 here but apparently it was a bit slow and white lost upper hand in the position rapidly...A few moves later:

 Bd2 was played by FM Ata Seçer who also has an IM norm from European Club Cup 2007. This blitzkrieg was successful but white was only lost after 30.Rhg1. Seçer's fast-break was the winning counter-attack after this mistake.

Aydın Duman facing the underdog of the championship Ali Ekber Doğan who won against IM Umut Atakişi in the qualification tournament and caused a big sensation.

IM Hasan Kılıçaslan able to escape with a draw against Burak Fırat.

Left: Spectators at the analysis room which is the library of Atatürk Chess Centre. Ata Seçer and Kıvanç Haznedaroğlu analyse. Right: Hakan Erdoğan showing his game to Selim Çıtak ona separate occasion.

4.Tur: Gurevich Saved the Last Bullet and Won the Clash of Titans of Turkey

The meeting of the titans of Turkish chess, the grandmasters Gurevich and Atalık ended dramatically for Atalık. Gurevich offered an early draw which would have enabled Atalık to retain the lead and maybe even win the tournament in the end but Atalık rejected and went on to have a comfortable position with clearly better chances for white. However, in the end Atalık made an unfortunate blunder and lost his advantage that came from Gurevich's loss against 16-year-old Mustafa Yılmaz.
 
In this position, black played 39...Qe4 and white continued

 40.Kh3 Qe6 41.g4 now white was not content with a draw of course and after black's Rc5...

42.Qb4?? came here which is a big blunder since after Rc4 the only way to defend g4 is to give up the queen for the rook.

Grandmaster Club: Atalık and Gurevich in a very friendly mood before the game. During the game, the two professionals excited the Turkish chess fans.

In the clash of the youngsters, Burak Fırat played a very interesting pawn sacrifice and Yılmaz was able to hold on against black's piece activity despite the pawn sacrifce, objectively evaluated by the computer as equal. Erdoğdu won against Kılıçaslan while Haznedaroğlu won against Doğan.

 12...e5 was the sacrifice that Fırat prepared at home. After 13.ed5 cd5 14.Qe5 dc4 15.Bc4 Bb7, black had some compensation but white was able to balance the game in the final analysis.

Burak Fırat stopped his opponent not only in Turkish championship but also in youth events, also his team-mate. The under-16 generation with the ones like Mustafa Yılmaz and Burak Fırat is a very promising one. However, Mustafa has his own league since he won this group very comfortably with 1.5 point gap.

IM  Erdoğdu in action against IM Kılıçaslan, his teammate in İş Bank Turkish Chess Leauge (both play in Turkish Airlines team together with Anna Muzychuk, Melia Salome, Merab Gagunashvili etc.)

IM Kıvanç Haznedaroğlu meticulously keeping his scoresheet.

In the İzmir trainers' derby, Ata Seçer won against Alper Efe Ataman in a Ruy Lopez Breyer.

A view from the tournament hall.

Round 3: GM Gurevich wins against FM Çıtak

 
Both grandmasters won today. Gurevich extracted full-point in a difficult endgame against FM Çıtak while GM Atalık won against the strong local player Büker. Mustafa Yılmaz continued his big march in the Turkish championship after winning against IM Mert Erdoğdu. Yılmaz sacrificed some pawns to obtain some initiative and Erdoğdu's defensive concept on the kingside failed after Qd7. Therefore, the youngster get another important win, this time against the international master from İstanbul.

FM Hakan Erdoğan and Ali Ekber Doğan

Mustafa Yılmaz, won against IM Erdoğdu in the critical encounter of the day.

FM Çıtak and FM Ataman

Round 2: 15-Year-Old Burak Fırat, wins against "GM-normed" IM Haznedaroğlu 

There are three leaders after round 2, Mustafa Yılmaz who won against Gurevich in the first round, GM Suat Atalık and FM Selim Çıtak. Burak Fırat, rated 2182 and aged 15  won against IM Haznedaroğlu after the latter sacrificed too much material for obtaining an attack. Yılmaz won against Büker in the second round to share the lead with GM Atalık who defeated FM Erdoğan. Gurevich scored his first win against IM Kılıçaslan in the second round after the traumatic first-round loss against Mustafa Yılmaz.