This section of the exhibit highlights a unique piece of Turkish history: the personal chess set of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. The gallery photo shows H. Sertaç Dalkıran alongside Atatürk’s adopted daughter, Ülkü Adatepe, proudly presenting the set.
This chess set was uniquely carved from boxwood as a one-of-a-kind design. It was inspired by the Battle of Gallipoli and crafted by Tahsin Çukurluoğlu the Station Chief of the Atatürk Forest Farm, the husband of Zübeyde Hanım’s adopted daughter Vasfiye Hanım, and the father of Atatürk’s adopted daughter Ülkü Adatepe. It was presented as a gift to Atatürk. The rooks are depicted as cannons, in line with the terminology of this piece as cannon, “top”, in many South-Slavic and Balkan languages.
Following Atatürk’s passing, the set was preserved by this family. Upon Tahsin Çukurluoğlu’s death, the set was given as a memento to his close friend Selahattin Aşkan, an esteemed figure in the chess community, at their home in Cevizli, Istanbul.
Later, this set was gifted to H. Sertaç Dalkıran who founded our country’s first chess school and museum in recognition of his outstanding services to chess in Turkey. It is known that Atatürk played with this very set against İsmet İnönü, Selahattin Adil Pasha, and other comrades-in-arms.
Based on the stadium collage.
This impressive visual showcases a massive “Live Chess” event held in 1997 at the stadium of Fenerbahçe, one of Turkey’s most established sports clubs.
In this event, where the football pitch was transformed into a giant chessboard, specially costumed performers brought the strategic game to life in front of a stadium audience by acting as the chess pieces. The visual seamlessly blends the intellectual depth of chess with a physical visual feast and sports culture. Ataturk’s photo can be seen on a flag in the stadium.
Archival Note: As stated on the original photograph, this special piece of chess history is exhibited from the personal archive and collection of FIDE International Chess Arbiter and Writer, H. Sertaç Dalkıran.
