A Shared Vision for Chess in Pendik: Turkish Chess Federation Pays Meaningful Visit to the District Directorate of National Education

Fethi Apaydın, President of the Turkish Chess Federation, and the accompanying federation delegation met with Ertan Saygın, District Director of National Education in Pendik, for an important discussion on the development of chess in the district. The visit highlighted key themes such as introducing children to chess at an earlier age, expanding chess culture across educational institutions, and implementing sustainable projects at the local level. The meeting was shaped by the understanding that chess is not only a sport, but also a powerful educational tool that supports disciplined thinking, planning, and sound decision-making.

During the meeting, the chess projects planned for Pendik were evaluated from multiple angles. The discussions focused on in-school tournaments that could contribute to students’ academic achievement, training programs that could be carried out with the support of teachers and coaches, events designed to identify talented players at an early stage, and partnerships that could help chess reach wider audiences. It was emphasized that the core benefits of chess—such as patience, concentration, calculation, and strategic perspective, from the opening to the endgame—can have a positive impact on a broad range of areas, from classroom performance to social relationships.

This contact between the federation and the District Directorate of National Education also stands out as a significant step toward strengthening the place of chess within the educational ecosystem. Today, in many schools, chess is seen as an important field of development where children learn not only how to understand competition correctly, but also how to accept defeat with maturity as much as victory. In this sense, chess is not limited to move calculation, tempo, and positional understanding; it also offers a multilayered learning environment that nurtures self-confidence, communication, and a sense of responsibility. The initiatives planned in Pendik are likewise expected to be shaped by this holistic perspective.

At the end of the visit, both sides demonstrated a positive willingness to turn this exchange of ideas into concrete projects in the coming period. Through such engagement with local education stakeholders, the Turkish Chess Federation aims to make chess more accessible and to introduce new generations to the game. The support given to chess by Ertan Saygın and his team provides an important foundation for future training programs, tournaments, and grassroots initiatives that may be organized in the district. This visit stands out as a valuable and promising step for the future development of chess in Pendik.