Turkish billionaire investor Evren Ucok has launched a multi-year project supporting young chess players including 14-year-old GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus and six other prodigies from Turkey, France, the United States, and England.

Ucok contacted chess coach Selim Gurcan in 2024 seeking to create a global chess initiative. Gurcan introduced him to Erdogmus, who lacked financial support for coaching and tournament travel. Ucok committed to a minimum five-year support plan for him.

Following the agreement, the program expanded to include full-time training with GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who paused his competitive career to work with the young grandmaster.

As of 2026, Ucok supports seven players total, including French prodigies Marc Llari and Luca Protopopescu, Turkey’s Atilla Kuru and Gulenay Aydin, US GM Brewington Hardaway, and England’s Bodhana Sivanandan.

Evren Ucok serves as Senior Advisor at Lycian Capital and co-founded Trendyol, Turkey’s first $10 billion valuation e-commerce company.