Representing BAYEGAN Pendik Chess Sports Club and the Turkish national team, Grandmaster (GM) Işık Can has won the 2026 Liaocheng Dongchangfu Cup Rising Stars Tournament in China, completing the event undefeated.
This significant international achievement has once again brought pride to Turkish chess, while highlighting Işık Can as a powerful example of BAYEGAN’s commitment to supporting young talent.
Competing in the 2026 Liaocheng Dongchangfu Cup Rising Stars Tournament held in Liaocheng, China, GM Işık Can claimed the title without a single defeat in a field that brought together some of the world’s leading U23 players and China’s top performers in the category.
Throughout the event, Işık Can delivered a consistent performance, defeating 2618-rated GM Aleksey Grebnev in the second round. A draw with GM Mahammad Muradli in the final round secured his unbeaten campaign and brought the championship trophy home to Türkiye.
A Career Strengthened by International Success
Reigning Turkish Champion GM Işık Can has emerged as one of the leading figures in Turkish chess through a series of strong performances in national and international tournaments in recent years.
In 2025, he reached a major career milestone by winning the Turkish Chess Championship. That same year, he won a silver medal on his board at the European Team Chess Championship, earning Türkiye’s sole medal of the tournament.
He also represented the University of Missouri at the 2026 President’s Cup, officially known as the National Collegiate Chess Championship, one of the most prestigious events in collegiate chess. His performance helped lead the team to the collegiate championship.
His victory at the 2026 Liaocheng Dongchangfu Cup Rising Stars Tournament in China marks another major milestone in his international career and contributes to the growing prominence of Turkish chess on the world stage.
BAYEGAN supports Işık Can not only in his chess career but also in his professional development. As part of this support, he successfully completed an internship with the company.
BAYEGAN’s Long-Term Commitment to the Development of Chess
Recognizing its contribution to social development as a key area of responsibility, BAYEGAN views chess as an important means of strengthening strategic thinking, concentration, patience and analytical decision-making skills.
Guided by this approach, BAYEGAN Pendik Chess Sports Club offers training programs for participants of all ages, from children to adults, and ranks among Türkiye’s strongest chess clubs.
The club further consolidated its success by winning consecutive Türkiye İş Bankası Chess Super League titles in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, it represented Türkiye at the European Chess Club Cup, finishing fourth in Europe.