The Turkish Children's Team Championship U-11 took place in Kemer (Antalya) from April 12th to 17th, 2011. This year 288 players from 46 clubs took part in the event, a big increase from the first children’s league, which was organized by the Turkish Chess Federation last year and attracted 165 players from 26 teams. After the start of the program "Chess in Schools" a few years ago, thousands of young chess players have appeared all over the country. The statistics of the TCF show that the number of children learning chess from 2005 until 2010 has increased to 2,250,000 (two million, two hundred and fifty thousand).
The tournament in Kemer was played over nine rounds (Swiss system), with time controls of 60 min per game + 30 sec increment from the first move. The organizers provided live transmission of all the games in the tournament (96 boards).
The team of Mediterranean Municipality (Akdeniz Belediyesi), who was leading after the fifth round, won the final match against Ankara Tasduvar Team and were declared the victors with a total of 16 points. The experienced teams Yamanlar Ozyurt Elementary School (last years champion) and Yamanlar Special Elementary School won the last rounds matches and finished the championship in second and third places.
The regular venue of Turkish chess events – the five-star Limra Hotel
in Kemer, Antalya
The General Secretary of the TCF, Erman Uskudarli, makes the symbolic first
move
One of the playing halls of the Turkish Children's Team Championship
Organisers and helpers running a live transmission of all games of the tournament
A key match between the strongest teams: Akdeniz Belediyesi (right) and
Yamanlar
Özyurt I.Ö.O. ended in favour of the former, who ended up winning
the tournament
The Ortaca Yildizlar Team vs Mugla and Ramazan Savas Sport Club 1 Aspendos-
Antalya.
During the first ten minutes all the matches were followed by coaches and parents.
Trying to find the right place for the queen
Muhammed Enes Tasoglu, third board for Yamanlar Special Elementary School,
Izmir
There are many different ways to help you concentrate
Melek Akca from the team Nihat Arslan (Karaman) makes a long move
Such an interesting position!
Deep concentration and bracelet charms
Taha Koseoglu fromthe Tarzanlar Falezler team (Antalya)
What should I do now?
The cap is from the 2006 FIFA (soccer) World Cup in Germany
Halit Yavuz Ibik from the Tasduvar Team (Ankara) calculating variations
in his mind.
Father-and-son discussion of the game and result
Boys from the Bafra Kizilirmak Elementary School, Samsun, show great team
spirit
Kids who have finished their games wait for their team-mates
Checking out the chess books in the store
Players form Atafen Beyaz Piyonlar (Kocaeli) analyse their games with their
coach
The President of the Turkish Chess Federation, Ali Nihat Yazici, at the
closing ceremony
Özel Yamanlar I.Ö.O. (Izmir) hold the cup for their third place
in the championship
The winners of the Children's Turkish League Akdeniz Belediyesi
The prize winners of the championship with their trainers and the President
of the TCF Ali Nihat Yazici
Participants relaxed with table hockey and other similar games
The weather in Kemer was excellent, so there was much playing around
outside
As usual table tennis is one of the favourite games...
... and some of the kids showed real virtuosity in it
