14-Year-Old Prodigy Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus Enters World Chess Top 100

History was made this week in Marseille as 14-year-old Turkish grandmaster Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş officially broke into the top 100 classical chess players in the world for the first time. Following his stunning victory with the black pieces over legendary Russian GM Peter Svidler in the opening game of their six-game “Clash of Generations” match, Erdoğmuş’s live rating soared to 2632, placing him at World No. 98.

A New Milestone for Turkish Chess

Already hailed as one of the brightest talents in modern chess, Erdoğmuş’s entry into the elite club of the top 100 is both a personal milestone and a moment of pride for Turkish chess. At just 14, he becomes one of the youngest players ever to reach this level, joining a historic list that includes legends like Judit Polgár, who cracked the top 100 at the age of 12.

While Polgár’s 1989 record remains unmatched as she was ranked No. 55 at age 12, Erdoğmuş’s feat at 14 is still nothing short of extraordinary. His performance against an experienced veteran like Svidler, a multiple-time Russian Champion and World Cup finalist, signals that the next generation has truly arrived.

“Clash of Generations” Match: The Start of Something Bigger

The ongoing match between Svidler and Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus is part of a special event held in Marseille from July 24–29, 2025. The format features six classical games with a time control of 100 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 50 minutes for the next 20, and a 15-minute finish, with 30 seconds increment per move. It’s a grueling format that tests both tactical sharpness and long-term stamina, an arena where the young Turk just proved he belongs.

With five games still to play in the match, Erdoğmuş has already seized the spotlight. Whether he can hold his momentum and even rise further in the rankings remains to be seen, but the buzz around him has never been louder

2025 Prodigy Watch: Rising Star No. 2

Erdoğmuş was already ranked No. 2 in our “Top 10 Chess Prodigies to Watch in 2025”, just behind the Argentinian sensation IM Faustino Oro, who also broke into the top junior rankings earlier this year. You can view the full list and see where Erdoğmuş stands among his peers here.

Want to Know More About Erdoğmuş?

We previously took a deep dive into Erdoğmuş’s background, rapid rise, and playing style in a special feature titled Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş: The Chess Prodigy Shaping History. From winning national championships in Turkey to earning his GM title at a record-setting pace, the article charts his journey from a curious kid to a top-100 grandmaster.

What’s Next?

With five more games remaining against Svidler, Erdoğmuş has an opportunity to further solidify his spot among the world elite, and perhaps climb even higher. Regardless of the final match score, this milestone marks the beginning of a new era in chess, where prodigies like him don’t just show promise, but they deliver.

Stay tuned as we continue to follow this historic match and the meteoric rise of Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş. What his live game 2 against Svidler below:

XB

I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300, in both blitz and bullet. Follow me on Twitter (X).