BAYEGAN Pendik Chess Sports Club, the undefeated champion of the 2026 season after winning all 15 matches in the Turkish Chess Super League, celebrated its third consecutive league title at a ceremony held at BAYEGAN Headquarters.
BAYEGAN Pendik Chess Sports Club won all 15 matches it played in the Turkish Chess Super League, held in Ankara from 2 to 15 August, completing the 2026 season undefeated and lifting the championship trophy once again. With its third consecutive title, the club maintained its consistent performance in the league. The championship was celebrated at an event held at BAYEGAN Headquarters, where the trophy returned to BAYEGAN and medals were presented to the players.
Ercüment Bayegan: “Our Goal Is to Build a Lasting Culture of Success Extending from Türkiye to the World”
Speaking at the ceremony, BAYEGAN Chairman Ercüment Bayegan stated that they regard their support for chess as a long-term investment in Türkiye’s future. Ercüment Bayegan said: “Chess teaches us that the future is not built with a single move, but by connecting the right moves over many years. Throughout BAYEGAN’s journey of more than 85 years, we have always prioritized investing in people, knowledge and the future. Today, Türkiye is nurturing a very strong generation of young chess players capable of competing with the world. Our goal is not only to win championships, but also to open pathways for young people who think, question and can see several steps ahead, and to contribute to a lasting culture of success extending from Türkiye to the world. Our third consecutive championship is a highly valuable indicator of this long-term journey. I believe that together we will achieve many more successes.”
Erhan Arslanalp: “The Third Championship Is a Strong Beginning for New Goals”
Erhan Arslanalp, Vice Chairman of the BAYEGAN Foundation, emphasized that winning the championship for three consecutive years was the natural result of sustained and determined work. Arslanalp said: “Winning all 15 matches in the Turkish Chess Super League and becoming champions for the third consecutive time is a great source of pride for all of us. This result was achieved through the determination of our players, the meticulous preparation of our technical team and the committed work of our club management. As the BAYEGAN Foundation, we value helping young people develop strategic thinking, concentration and resilience through chess. The achievements of our players in Türkiye and on the international stage strengthen our confidence in this field every day. In the coming period, we aim to maintain our club’s steady rise, introduce more young people to chess and contribute to the international success of Turkish chess. I congratulate our players, technical team and club management who contributed to this championship, and I thank all our colleagues who have supported this journey with their interest and encouragement.”
At the Same Board as the Champions
Following the medal and trophy ceremony, during which the champion players also shared the season’s critical matches and their new goals, they came together with BAYEGAN employees and guests for blindfold and simultaneous games. The games attracted great interest, and participants experienced the excitement of playing at the same board as the champions and responding to their moves.
BAYEGAN Pendik Chess Sports Club to Compete in the European Chess Club Cup
BAYEGAN Pendik Chess Sports Club is preparing to carry its Super League success onto the international stage. The club will compete in the European Chess Club Cup, to be held in Budva, Montenegro, from 16 to 24 October 2026.
Ediz Gürel and Işık Can to Represent Türkiye at the World Chess Olympiad
Meanwhile, BAYEGAN Pendik Chess Sports Club grandmasters Ediz Gürel and Işık Can are preparing to represent Türkiye at the FIDE World Chess Olympiad, one of the world’s most important chess events. Ediz Gürel and Işık Can are among the players selected for the Turkish National Team that will compete at the 46th FIDE World Chess Olympiad, bringing together national teams from around the world in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15 to 27 September. Despite his young age, Ediz Gürel has recently attracted attention with his achievements on the national and international stage, particularly his victory over World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh, which made headlines around the world. Işık Can, known for his consistent performance in national and international tournaments, once again demonstrated his strength on the international stage by completing the 2026 LiaochengDongchangfu Cup Rising Stars Tournament in China undefeated and winning the title.
About BAYEGAN :
With more than 85 years of experience, BAYEGAN is a leading company conducting supply, sales, distribution and marketing activities in the petrochemical industry on a global scale. Reaching 120 countries across five continents through its operations, BAYEGAN is among the industry’s leading players, with more than 3,000 business partners and a strong global network. Providing effective distribution worldwide while addressing local needs, BAYEGAN offers a broad product portfolio across chemicals, polymers and engineering plastics.
As one of Türkiye’s leading suppliers of polymers and chemical raw materials, BAYEGAN today connects the world’s major petrochemical producers with business partners of all sizes around the globe. With its strategic partnerships, global distribution network, fast and flexible supply chain and logistics infrastructure, strong financial network and ability to provide end-to-end integrated services, BAYEGAN holds a leading position in the markets in which it operates.
BAYEGAN continues to create added value in the industry by extending its expertise in trade and distribution into manufacturing through its BYCHEM facility. Through investments made under BYCHEM, the company is strengthening its regional leadership in DOTP plasticizers while developing high-value-added products through Türkiye’s first domestic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) production and polyester polyol investments. For more information, please visit https://bayegan.net.
About BAYEGAN Pendik Chess Sports Club :
Operating in Pendik, Istanbul, since 2017 and aiming to make chess accessible to people of all ages, BAYEGAN Pendik Chess Sports Club is an education and development platform. While pursuing its vision of bringing qualified players to Turkish chess at national and international levels, the club also adopts a multifaceted approach centered on strategic thinking, patience and mental discipline. Through an educational model structured for different age groups and needs, the club offers basic and advanced chess training for children and young people, as well as programs that support lifelong learning for adults. Through partnerships with schools, it also aims to expand access to chess from an early age and strengthen the development pathway.
BAYEGAN Pendik Chess Sports Club continues its work to help individuals become self-confident people who can think strategically and from multiple perspectives, not only in chess but also in life.