Seventeen-year-old Turkish chess grandmaster (GM) Ediz Gürel aims to surpass a classical rating of 2700 and enter the world’s top 30 players.
Gürel claimed the world championship title in the Under-17 Blitz category at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships for Ages 9–17, held in Antalya, where a total of nine rounds were played. He shared his thoughts with an Anadolu Agency correspondent.
Currently a 11th-grade high school student, Ediz said he started playing chess in kindergarten and enrolled in formal training upon the recommendation of the teacher who discovered his talent.
Stating that he was selected for the national team at the age of eight, Ediz said:
“Chess is a sport I truly enjoy. I play it with passion every time. Of course, there are moments of disappointment, but learning how to handle losses is part of the game. Overall, I really love this sport. I do my best and have been playing competitively for eight years.”
Before participating in the blitz championship, Ediz said he played online games, which helped motivate him. He added that during the tournament he competed against players from various countries, including two from Türkiye.
A “Very Intense” Match Against World Champion Gukesh
Ediz also recalled defeating reigning World Chess Champion Dommaraju Gukesh at the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament.
Describing the game as “very exciting and very stressful,” Ediz said:
“The result was very pleasing for me. I was thrilled when I saw the pairing, because even playing against the world champion is a huge achievement.”
Speaking about the Rapid and Blitz Championships, he continued:
“Just qualifying to compete here is an achievement in itself. It was an age-group championship, and all my opponents played extremely well. I had very tough games, but in the end I managed to finish first. That makes me very happy. Winning was one of my goals. Everyone wants to come first, and I did everything I could. My main focus was to enjoy the game and play the best chess I possibly could.”
A Unique Focus Technique
Ediz noted that many chess players clear their minds and focus intensely before matches. He explained that to avoid distractions, he covers the area around his eyes with his hands while concentrating.
“This is something I do to focus on the game. I’ve been doing it for a long time, and I think it works. This is a very long journey, and I set my goals step by step. My current classical rating is 2646. My first goal is to surpass 2700 and enter the world’s top 30,” he said.
Another Match with Magnus Carlsen
Ediz stated that he will compete in the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, to be held in Qatar from December 24–31.
He noted that the format in Qatar will be the same as the Antalya tournament, adding that he will play 13 rapid games and 19 blitz games.
Highlighting that the world’s best players will compete in Qatar, Ediz said:
“I want to do my best and finish as high as possible. I generally perform better in these formats compared to classical chess. I don’t want to speak too early, but my results usually reflect that. Magnus Carlsen is currently the best player in the world and has been for a long time. I’ve played against him once before, but playing him again would be very meaningful for me.”
Emphasizing that he will continue his journey with the strong support of his family and as part of the BAYEGAN community, Ediz concluded:
“On this occasion, I would like to thank Mr. Ercüment Bayegan, Chairman of the Board of BAYEGAN, and the BAYEGAN Foundation for their long-standing support of chess. I aim to continue my successful work within the Bayegan Pendik Chess Sports Club.”