Turkish businessman and investor Evren Ucok may soon become a major supporter of Azerbaijani chess grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, potentially fueling a new push toward a world championship.
Idman.biz, citing Bakuplus.az, reports that reliable sources claim that the founder and former CEO of the Trendyol brand has expressed his readiness to provide full support to Mamedyarov in his quest for the world title.
Ucok, already known for funding Turkish youth chess talents, had invited Shakhriyar to Turkiye as a coach for developing young champions. Discussions reportedly evolved, leading to the idea of directly supporting Mamedyarov’s own world title ambitions—especially now that Magnus Carlsen has stepped away from the world championship cycle since 2023.
Ucok sees this as a golden opportunity for Shakhriyar, emphasizing that real investment and backing could finally pave the way for his long-awaited world title.
He is also personally mentoring Atilla Orman, Shakhriyar's 9-year-old nephew, with hopes of building another future chess star.
Notably, the Mamedyarovs are the only family in Azerbaijan with three international grandmasters: Zeynab, Shakhriyar, and Turkan Mamedyarova.
Mamedyarov has often voiced frustration over the lack of institutional support for his career in Azerbaijan.
Idman.biz
