Turkish Presence at the Menorca Open: Four Players at the Board in Spain
Menorca, located in Spain’s Balearic Islands, is once again hosting one of the notable gatherings of international chess this week. The 5th Menorca Open Chess Tournament is being held in the city of Ciutadella from April 7 to 12, 2026, bringing together a large number of players from different countries under one roof. Thanks to its open tournament format, it provides an important competitive setting for both titled players and young names seeking to rise.
Turkey is represented in this strong event by FM Selim Çıtak, WIM Gülenay Aydın, FM Ari Kiremitciyan, and Orkun Dizdar. For Turkish players, international open tournaments of this kind are not only about fighting for points and standings; they also offer the chance to play against different chess schools, test opening repertoires, and improve endgame technique in practice. Especially in fast-paced pairings, not only preparation but also psychological resilience, time management, and the ability to strike the right balance between risk and safety become decisive.
Tournaments such as the Menorca Open, which stand out on the European calendar, are also closely followed by players pursuing norm and rating goals. In Swiss-system events like this, facing opponents of different styles in every round provides a serious test of players’ positional understanding and calculating ability. Along with gaining a small edge in the opening, correctly shaping a plan in the middlegame and avoiding technical mistakes in the endgame are among the key factors that determine success.
Throughout the competition in Ciutadella, attention will be focused not only on the results achieved by the Turkish players but also on the quality of the chess they produce. Every experience gained on the international stage carries its own value, both for individual development and for the visibility of Turkish chess. Those who want to follow the tournament closely can track developments through the event’s official page as well as live pairings and results platforms. We wish all our players competing for Turkey the best of success.