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Turkish national chess player Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus was defeated by world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship, a loss that left the 14-year-old in tears after a hard-fought game.
The championship is being held in Doha, with rapid games running from Dec. 26–28 and blitz games scheduled for Dec. 29–30.
Türkiye is competing in the open section with six grandmasters: Erdogmus, Ediz Gurel, Mustafa Yilmaz, Emre Can, Vahap Sanal and Cem Kaan Gokercan.
Erdogmus, regarded as one of the brightest young talents in world chess, drew significant attention as he faced Carlsen, the sport’s dominant figure for more than a decade.
Despite resisting for much of the game, the teenage grandmaster ultimately lost to the Norwegian star and was visibly emotional afterward, drawing sympathy from spectators.
Speaking after the match, Carlsen offered strong praise for the young Turkish player.
“Yagiz is the best 14-year-old player the world has ever seen,” Carlsen said. “We will hear his name a lot in the future.”
Earlier in the championship, Erdogmus defeated an opponent ranked 32nd in the world, briefly rising to the same score as Carlsen.
Despite the loss, his performance in Doha has reinforced expectations that Erdogmus could soon become a regular contender among the world’s elite.
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