15-year-old Erdogmus becomes youngest player to cross 2700 Elo, aims to make Turkish chess comparable to India

Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, a 15-year-old Turkish chess player, has just entered history as the youngest player to cross the 2700 Elo threshold. With an Elo rating of 2716, Erdogmus is currently ranked 26th in the world. This achievement follows a series of age records. Earlier, he became the youngest to reach 2600 Elo at 13 years, 2 months and 15 days. Erdogmus also holds the highest Elo marks for the age groups of 12, 13 and 14, while being the youngest player to enter the world top 100, top 50 and top 20. He is not alone in this rise. Together with his compatriot Ediz Gürel (17), Erdogmus is leading a new Turkish generation. Observers believe the country is learning from India's success in building a strong youth chess pipeline. Grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who once peaked at 2820 Elo, said that Erdogmus could reach 2900 in the future if his progress continues. For his part, Erdogmus wants Turkey to become a chess stronghold, with children playing the game at parks and tournaments becoming holidays, much like in India. However, experts warn that Erdogmus needs frequent appearances in major international events to be tested against top rivals and to avoid burnout or stagnation. His story is only beginning. At 15, he already has the potential to become one of the greatest chess players in history.