A tournament was organized in Alaşehir to honor the name Serhat

The 9th edition of the ‘Serhat Asım Türker’ Chess Tournament organized by the Turkey Aid Lovers Association Alaşehir Branch was held. 186 participants competed in 6 categories at the chess competition held at the historic Kurşunlu Han in Alaşehir Beşeylül Neighborhood. Alaşehir Mayor Ahmet Öküzcüoğlu wished success to the participants. Members of the Turkey Aid Lovers Association Alaşehir Branch who organized the competition, Serhat Asım Türker’s mother, Pharmacist Yıldız Türker, siblings Selen Öküzcüoğlu and Sertaç Türker also wished success to the participants. Speaking before the competition, Serhat Asım Türker’s sister Selen Öküzcüoğlu said, ‘My brother passed away in a traffic accident at the age of 18 on June 1, 1988, while studying in the second year of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Ege University. We organize a chess tournament in his name every year to keep his memory alive. This year, we are organizing the 9th edition. My brother loved reading, writing poetry, music, nature, and playing chess. We wanted to keep his name alive in this way. Our mother Yıldız Türker, who is also the President of the Turkey Aid Lovers Association Alaşehir Branch, and the board of directors are continuing to keep this tournament alive. I thank our students, who are the guarantee of our future, for their interest in this tournament. We are very happy on behalf of my brother and our family. We will keep Serhat Asım Türker, whom we will never forget, alive forever with you.’ Serhat Asım Türker’s family organized 6 years of commemorative events under the name ‘Serhat Asım Türker Poetry Inspirations and Competition’ in 2002. Later, on June 1, the day he passed away, the ‘Serhat Asım Türker Chess Tournament’ started to be organized, and this year the 9th edition was held. President Öküzcüoğlu wished success before the competition. Also, speaking before the chess tournament organized in the name of Serhat Asım Türker, who is also the brother-in-law of Alaşehir Mayor Ahmet Öküzcüoğlu, President Öküzcüoğlu said, ‘With the tournaments organized in the name of Serhat Asım Türker, many of our students participate in cultural and artistic activities, contributing to their social, cultural, and mental development. The aim is to contribute to the social, cultural, and mental development of our children, who are our future, while keeping Serhat Asım Türker alive. I congratulate those who contributed and pray for God’s mercy for Serhat Asım Türker.’ The tournament was held in a total of 6 categories, namely 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 16 years old. There were 38 athletes in the 7-year-old category, 48 athletes in the 8-year-old category, 24 athletes in the 9-year-old category, 27 athletes in the 10-year-old category, 24 athletes in the 12-year-old category, and 25 athletes in the 16-year-old category, making a total of 186 athletes participating in the championship. All athletes who participated in the 7 and 8-year-old categories received medals as champions, while the top 3 athletes in the 9, 10, 12, and 16-year-old categories received trophies, and the top 10 athletes received medals. Additionally, the top 5 female athletes were also awarded medals for their outstanding performance in the competition.