Jūrmala, Latvia — Grandmaster Vahap Şanal and the Turkish national team secured dominant victories at the 36th NATO Chess Championship, held from October 11–17, 2026. The event, hosted at the Baltic Beach Hotel & SPA, saw Şanal claim the individual title and Türkiye take the top spot in the team competition.
In a commanding individual performance, GM Vahap Şanal secured the championship title by achieving a perfect score of 7/7. His flawless run through the tournament established him as the premier individual competitor of the 36th edition.
The team competition was equally decisive for Türkiye, which finished at the top of the standings with a total of 23.5 points. Germany secured the second-place position, while Sweden and Latvia shared third place following a tie in the final rankings.
The championship also featured a blitz segment, which was won by International Master Mark Timmermans of the Netherlands. While the competition showcased high-level strategic play and intense competition among the participating nations, no monetary prizes were reported for the winners.
The 36th NATO Chess Championship concluded in Jūrmala, marking another significant chapter in the tournament's history with Türkiye and Şanal emerging as the standout performers of the 2026 event.