Apaydın Visits Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command: Emphasis on Chess, Education, Discipline, and Cooperation

Turkish Chess Federation President Fethi Apaydın, accompanied by Pendik District Director of National Education Ertan Saygın and a federation delegation, paid a visit to Istanbul Naval Shipyard Commander Rear Admiral Recep Erdinç Yetkin. During the meeting in Istanbul, the participants discussed in detail how chess goes beyond being merely a sport and contributes to education, planning, concentration, and discipline. The meeting once again showed that when institutions come together around shared goals, they can make a meaningful contribution to the wider spread of chess.

One of the key themes of the visit was the multidimensional impact of chess, especially on children and young people. The thinking process that stretches from the opening to the middlegame and then to the endgame helps develop patience, sound decision-making, and the ability to anticipate the consequences of each move. In this sense, chess is seen as a powerful tool not only for school-age students but also for institutional training and personal development. The federation’s growing engagement with educational institutions in recent years has also highlighted how valuable chess can be in both classroom and extracurricular learning environments.

The discussion also focused on opportunities for inter-institutional cooperation. It was noted that joint initiatives in areas such as chess tournaments, training seminars, awareness events, and youth-oriented projects could help both expand chess culture and bring habits of strategic thinking to broader segments of society. In Türkiye, such contacts among public institutions, education administrators, and sports stakeholders create an important foundation for the long-term development of chess at the grassroots level.

This visit by Federation President Fethi Apaydın can also be seen as part of broader institutional and diplomatic efforts to increase the social impact of chess. Supported by the unifying language of sport, such exchanges are expected to pave the way for new projects and lasting partnerships in the future. The Turkish Chess Federation also extended its thanks to Rear Admiral Recep Erdinç Yetkin for his warm hospitality and gracious hosting.