They Said, “Chess for Peace"
IN RESPECTFUL MEMORIAL OF OUR CITIZENS LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE MALICIOUS TERROR ATTACK IN ANKARA
Akın Gökyay owner of the “Biggest Chess Set in the World” transformed its 40 years chess adventure into a museum. Dedicating the opening of the museum to the people who lost their lives at malicious terror attack in Ankara made a call by saying, “Chess is the game of peace. A chess table brings together the people far and wide and makes them understand each other and communicate with each other. Young people, learn chess!”
Speaking at the opening of the museum done on the anniversary of Ankara’s being capital city Akın Gökyay said, “Malicious terror attack burned hearts of all. We condemn terror. We condemn people who created this ferocity incompatible with human dignity. We hesitated whether we should make this opening. But the real aim of the terror is to create fear and intimidation in us. For this reason in the capital city of our republic Ankara, at the anniversary of its being capital, to show that we are protecting our republic, we decided to gather under the symbol of peace; chess with our national sportsmen and present our stand in our museum.”
Akın Gökyay’s 540 chess sets collected from 6 mainland and 103 countries since 1975 including 412 chess sets which made their way to Guinness Records Book are exhibited at Gökyay Foundation Chess Museum and taking the visitors to a world journey.
At the anniversary of Ankara’s being capital city, Akın Gökyay, one of the partners of Turkey’s leader furniture producer Nurus and owner of the “World’s Biggest Chess Set Collection” make people of the capital city meet with Gökyay Foundation Chess Museum which he has donated to Ankara. 540 special chess sets Gökyay has collected over 40 years is awaiting for chess lovers at one of the historical neighborhoods Hamamönü to take them to a world journey.
At the opening which began with the stand in silence for the people who lost their lives at the terror attack in Ankara, Chairman of Board of Directors of Gökyay Foundation Akın Gökyay started his speech with saying, “Chess is the symbol of peace. We are here for peace. We have hope for peace.” Stressing that chess is an important instrument for World peace and understanding he said; “Malicious terror attack burned hearts of all. We condemn terror. We condemn people who created this ferocity incompatible with human dignity. We hesitated whether we should make this opening. But the real aim of the terror is to create fear and intimidation in us. For this reason in the capital city of our republic Ankara, at the anniversary of its being capital, to show that we are protecting our republic, we decided to gather under the symbol of peace; chess with our national sportsmen and present our stand in our museum. We decided not to delay the opening of the museum where the collection of chess sets which play an important role for the introduction of chess that is an important instrument for facilitating world peace and understanding.”
“OUR YOUNGSTERS SHOULD UNITE UNDER THIS SYMBOL”
Gökyay in his speech said, “We will take our visitors to a world journey. They will be able to see the history, culture and interesting characteristics in of foreign countries in the chess sets. 103 countries from Tajikistan to Indonesia, from Kenya to New Zeeland, from Egypt to France, from Italy to Azerbaijan will come to life in 540 chess sets. Chess is a game of strategy, it is the ability to think analytically. The people who can think analytically and who can have a good strategy can plan today and tomorrow in a right way. I Especially recommend to young people, politicians, business man to learn chess because chess is a key to success. We should introduce chess to our youngsters from east to West and unite them under the symbol of peace. Chess is the game of peace. A chess table brings together the people far and wide and makes them understand each other and communicate with each other. Young people, learn chess!”
Besides Veysel Tiryaki the Mayor of Altındağ Municipality and Chairman of the Turkey Chess Federation Gülkız Tülay, national chess sportsmen, youngsters and a lot of foreign and national invitees attended to opening. Alexender Ipatov, Dragan Solak, Betül Cemre Yıldız who have Grand Master titles and have Olympics, World, Europe and Turkey champion titles, Kübra Öztürk and Cemil Şen who have Turkey champion titles said “Chess for Peace” and their simultaneous chess show was watched with courisly” said Gökyay and added: “A chess table, makes people from far and wide come together around a table and facilitates their communication and understanding of each other. We must make our youngsters from east to west meet chess and we must unite them with the symbol of peace. I really care for young people’s learning chess for healthy generations”
“I WILL NOT LET ANYBODY BREAK MY RECORD”
Gökyay who still owns the world’s biggest chess collection and recorded in 2012 edition of Guinness Records Book with 412 chess sets said; “My collection now reached to 540 and this number is increasing daily. I will again apply to Guinness. I will not let anybody take my place.”
Gökyay continued to his words with saying, “We established Gökyay Chess Sports and Culture Foundation to make this qualified game be reached by more people. Our target is to make this sport which enables multi-dimensional thinking popular amongst youngsters and be accepted as an instrument reflecting the culture and history of countries. Chess contributes to world peace by bringing nationalities close together and enabling cultural amalgamation. Chess is more of a peace game than symbolizing the war. Peace is desired the most in our country and in the world.”
JOURNEY TO A UTTERLY DIFFERENT WORLD
In the collection of Gökyay meeting with chess lovers there are 540 pieces collected from 6 mainland and 103 countries. Achieving the success of being recorded in the Guinness Records Book as the collector having the biggest chess collection in 2012, Gökyay still continues to collect chess sets. In the collection considered as a treasure, events, people and heroes of dream worlds gave new direction to World take place. Amongst the chess sets; a set describing the Turkish War of Independence with Atatürk, İsmet İnönü figures and their brothers in arms, a set representing September 11 with Ahmadinejad, Beshar Esad and Bin Ladin figures where Saddam is portrayed as a pawn in one side and with Blair, Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice figures where Bush is also portrayed as a pawn on the other side, a chess set bought from Kazakhstan representing the move of Turks from Ergenekon and chess sets consisting of Harry Potter, Smurfs, Lord of the Rings, Red Kit figures are present. Chess sets collected from 103 countries from Chili to Madagascar, from America to Indonesia, from Tanzania to Turkmenistan, from Kirgizstan to Tajikistan, from Italy to Czech Republic, from France to New Zeeland will take the visitors to a world journey.
ENTRANCE TO THE MUSEUM WILL BE FREE TILL THE WEY YEAR
Gökyay Foundation Chess Museum which is the product of a passion of a life time will be first in the Turkey and one of the rare examples in the world. Museum is built in Hamamönü in Ankara with traditional “Ankara House” architecture will meet with chess lovers with its comprehensive content better than the chess museums in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Moscow and Stolberg.
The museum built with an architecture suitable for disabled people will be free of charge till January 1, 2016 and people will be able to visit the museum every day except for Mondays including weekends. At the museum where a training center is present, chess tournaments, concerts and various colorful activities will frequently be held. At the museum shop where an atelier is also present for the kids to produce their own chess sets, there will be a museum shop with souvenirs to infuse chess love to any people between 7 and 70. Gökyay Chess Club is planned to be established soon.”