2016 Turkish İş Bank Super Chess League: Closing Ceremony



2016 Turkish İş Bank Super Chess League that brought World’s and Turkey’s top players together in İzmir Kaya Thermal Hotel ended on August 5th, 2016. 207 players, 100 of which are titled players, from Turkey’s top 14 teams strived for the top for 13 rounds.

The league’s splendid closing ceremony hosted high level officials such as İzmir Deputy Governor, Youth and Sports provincial director as well as officials from Turkish Chess Federation’s main sponsor Turkish İş Bank Feray Demir (Board Member) and Suat Sözen (Corporate Communications Manager).



The President of Turkish Chess Federation, Gülkız Tulay with İzmir Deputy Governor Uğur Kolsuz (right) and Turkish İş Bank Feray Demir (left).

At the end of 13 rounds, Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, which has not let go of the lead from the beginning, became victorious followed by Kayseri Seker Sports Club and Deniz Su Aquamatch in the second and third place respectively.

The organization of the league received no less comment than “excellent” by many players including GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, GM Vassily Ivanchuck, GM Sergei Zhigalko as stated under the extensive interviews section in the official website. The hotel’s conditions, quality of the playing hall, foyer and restaurant attracted attention.



The playing hall.

The league gives opportunity to young talented players to play against strong opponents.



There has been a live commentary throughout the league.



Top players on the first board: 1- GM Ernesto Inarkiev with a 2800 ELO performance 2- GM Hrant Melkumyan 3- GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov



Top players on the second board: 1- GM Ivan Salgado Lopez 2- GM Baadur Jobava 3- GM Luka Paichadze.

Familiar faces on the top female boards: 1- GM Anna Muzychuk 2- IM Marina Nechaeva 3- GM Anna Ushenina.



Winners of 2016 Turkish İş Bank Super Chess League: Hatay Metropolitan Municipality Team




Kayseri Şeker Sports Club took the second placed.



Third place winner is Deniz Su Aquamatch

Final standings:

5 August 2016

2016 Turkish İş Bank Super Chess League under way in İzmir



The most eclectic team event in Turkey and, without a doubt, one of the strongest one in the region, 2016 Turkish İş Bank Super Chess League is taking place in Izmir, Kaya Thermal Hotel from July 25th till August 5th, 2016.

The league was first introduced as “Turkish First League” in 1995. Nine years later, in 2004, the name of the league was changed to “Super Chess League”. In 2006, the name of the league was changed once more to “Turkish İş Bank Chess League” following the bank’s sponsorship to Turkish Chess Federation. The name of the league has been Turkish İş Bank Super Chess League since 2014.

In a country where there are over 690.000 licensed chess players, it is certainly not a coincidence that the league attracted crème de la crème of chess players. Among 207 players from Turkey’s top 14 teams, 100 are titled players.

There are super grandmasters and elite professionals including:

GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, GM Vasyl Ivanchuk, European Champion GM Ernesto Inarkiev, GM Ivan, Cheparinov, GM Baadur Jobava, GM Rauf Mamedov (2666), GM Sergei Zhigalko (2653), GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov (2653), GM Ivan Salgado Lopez, GM Aleksandr Moiseenko, GM Hrant Melkumyan, GM Yuriy Kuzubov, GM Boris Savchenko, GM Michal Krasenkow, GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili, GM Nidjat Mammadov, reigning World Junior Champion GM Mikhail Antipov, GM Aryan Tari, GM Anna Muzychuk and former Women’s World Champion GM Anna Ushenina, former World Junior Champion, Turkey’s top 100 player GM Alexander Ipatov, GM Dragan Solak, GM Mustafa Yılmaz, GM Emre Can, GM Barış Esen, GM Kıvanç Haznedaroğlu and many more...

The league does not solely a provide an on-board battle among super GMs and elite chess players, it also provides a perfect opportunity for young players and women as there are woman, U20, U16 and Girls U16 boards.


One of the stars of the event, GM Vassily Ivanchuk against one of Turkey’s young talents GM Emre Can.


European Champion GM Ernesto Inarkiev is playing on the 1st board of Deniz Su Aquamatch against GM Sergei Zhigalko.


Turkey’s top players: former World Junior Champion GM Alexander Ipatov and GM Dragan Solak.


GM Anna Muzychuk plays for Hatay Metropolitan Municipality Team.


Former Women’s World Champion GM Anna Ushenina plays for T.S Alyans.


Vahap Şanal Turkey’s youngest GM who earned his GM title at beginning of July.


Zeynep Yılmaz (Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Team) is one of the young players in the league. She is very lucky as she is surrounded by GMs left and right.


The president of TCF, Gulkiz Tulay, attentively follows the games.

Live Commentary

 

There has been a live coverage of the league hosted by commentator IM Can Arduman and Özgür Akman. The popular duo frequently invite chess players and analyse games and they interactively respond comments or questions via TCF Facebook page and tweets sent to @TurkishChess using the hashtag #supersatranc2016.

The Venue

Kaya İzmir Thermal & Convention offers a lot more than comfortable playing halls, a large foyer with refreshments and 5-star accommodation. Having located in Balçova region, with a breath taking view of the İzmir bay and refreshing pine forests, which is also known for its historical Agamemnon thermal springs and renowned for its healing thermal water since the ancient times, the hotel offers the most modern thermal and physical treatment in Turkey. The hotel’s rich and delicious open buffet Turkish food served three times a day is also worth mentioning.


Kaya Thermal Hotel is quite luxurious with scenic outdoor and indoor swimming pools.


Entrance of the playing hall looks like an ancient temple.


A spacious foyer where players can grab refreshments.


Spacious tournament Hall

Standings after the twelfth round