Karpowership has launched a global scouting program called "Future Grandmasters" to identify and support young chess players worldwide [1].
The initiative represents a strategic move by the energy company to expand its social impact footprint. By investing in intellectual sports, the organization aims to foster a new generation of competitive players and provide the resources necessary for young talents to reach professional levels.
Karadeniz Holding and its subsidiary Karpowership are leading the effort to find promising players across different continents [1]. The program focuses on scouting young individuals who demonstrate exceptional potential in the game, regardless of their geographic location.
"The initiative aims to identify and nurture promising young chess players from around the world," Karadeniz Holding said [1].
Ediz Gürel is heading the program and overseeing the scouting process [1]. The project is designed to provide a structured pathway for youth to transition from amateur play to the grandmaster level, the highest title awarded by the International Chess Federation.
"We believe in investing in the future," Gürel said [1].
By leveraging its international presence, Karpowership intends to create a network of support that includes training, and mentorship. The company has not yet released specific details regarding the financial scale of the grants or the exact number of players the program intends to recruit in its first phase [1].
“"We believe in investing in the future,"”
This move signals a shift toward corporate social responsibility (CSR) focusing on cognitive development and intellectual competition. By targeting a global audience, Karpowership is utilizing the universal nature of chess to build brand prestige and soft power in the various international markets where it operates its power ships.
