In an unexpected turn of events at the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival, 13-year-old Turkish chess prodigy Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus has inadvertently invented a new hybrid game that’s taking the chess world by storm.
Midway through a crucial match, Erdogmus, in a moment of youthful absent-mindedness, began playing by checkers rules while using chess pieces. His opponent, grandmaster Viktor Korchnoi, was so baffled by the unconventional moves that he failed to call for an arbiter, resulting in a match that lasted a record-breaking 14 hours.
“I was waiting for him to king me,” Erdogmus explained sheepishly. “Then I realized we were playing the wrong game.”
The confusion led to a series of moves never before seen in competitive chess, culminating in what observers are calling “the most exciting boring game in history.” The Turkish Chess Federation, initially embarrassed, is now championing the new game dubbed “Checkers.”
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich commented, “We’re considering adding ‘Checkers’ to our official roster. It’s confusing, unpredictable, and utterly captivating.”
As news of the hybrid game spreads, chess clubs worldwide report a surge in membership, particularly among easily distracted teenagers.
Erdogmus, now hailed as an accidental innovator, has seen his ELO rating skyrocket to an unprecedented 2,600 points in both chess and checkers. He’s currently penning a strategy book titled “To King or Not to King: That is the Question.”
As the chess world grapples with this delightful chaos, one thing is clear: sometimes, a little confusion can lead to revolutionary innovation.