Turkish Triumph in U.S. Collegiate Chess
2026 President’s Cup, the National College Chess Championship, was held on March 21-22 in the U.S. state of Missouri, and the event was marked by the success of Turkish players. In this prestigious final stage, which brings together the elite teams of collegiate chess, GM Işık Can delivered an important performance for host team University of Missouri (Mizzou). Our national player scored 2 out of 3 in his games, making a valuable contribution to his team’s march to the championship.
The President’s Cup is regarded as the premier event of the year in U.S. collegiate chess. In this final stage, where the strongest teams of the season compete, it is not only individual quality but also board order, team balance, and the ability to deliver the right result at critical moments that prove decisive. From this perspective, Mizzou’s title was the product not only of a strong lineup, but also of consistent results under pressure. The points scored by Işık Can played a critical role in the team’s overall score balance, while the fact that a Turkish grandmaster reached the top in such an important collegiate cup also drew attention.
Another historic development of the tournament came in the Women’s President’s Cup, which was held for the first time this year. Saint Louis University (SLU), represented by WIM Sıla Çağlar, finished the event undefeated and claimed the title of the cup’s first champion. This newly created competition is seen as an important step for the visibility and competitive level of women’s collegiate chess. SLU’s undefeated championship went on record as a success built on team unity and a sound playing approach; as part of this historic achievement, Sıla Çağlar also earned a result that brought pride to Turkish chess.
Collegiate chess in the United States has in recent years become a unique competitive arena bringing together many strong players from around the world under one roof. For that reason, top finishes at the President’s Cup represent not only a school achievement, but also an important showcase for international chess careers. This double championship by Işık Can and Sıla Çağlar in different categories once again demonstrated the growing strength of Turkish chess representation on the global stage. This good news from Missouri was one of the week’s most uplifting developments for both followers of collegiate chess and the Turkish chess community.