Reports | August 14, 2012 12:34

Atalik beats Atalik 9.5-4.5 in first ever husband vs wife match

Ekaterina Atalik vs Suat Atalik

In what seems to be the first* husband vs wife match ever held, GM Suat Atalik defeated his wife Ekaterina 9.5-4.5. In Chalkida, Greece two classical games, four rapid games and eight blitz games were played. The match was held to show "the true spirit of Greek hospitality, as well as the increasingly strong bonds of friendship between the Greek and Turkish people", after Atalik was banned from play by the federations of both countries.

Ekaterina Atalik vs Suat Atalik

Event Atalik vs Atalik | PGN
Dates August 7-9, 2012
Location Chalkida, Greece
System Match
Players Suat Atalik and Ekaterina Atalike
Rate of play

Regular: 90 minutes for the whole game + 30 seconds increment
Rapid: 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment
Blitz: 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment

Chalkida, or Chalcis, is the chief town of the Greek island of Euboea, situated on the strait of the Evripos at its narrowest point. In the late Middle Ages it was known as Negropont ("black bridge"), the same as the name of the tournament that was cancelled recently as a result of a clash between the organizers and the Greek Chess Federation.

Map of Chalkis (Negroponte) in Euboea, Greece, created in 1597 by the Venetian Giacomo (Jacomo)
Franco (1550-1620) for his book Viaggio da Venetia a Constantinopoli per Mare. | Image Wikipedia

Protesting against the decision of the Greek and Turkish federations to ban GM Suat Atalik from play, the organizers in Chalkida hosted a unique event: a match between Suat and his wife Ekaterina. The (unrated) "Atalik vs Atalik" match took place on 7, 8 and 9 August at the Lucy Hotel in Chalkida. According to the press release the players 

battled for three days to honor the Greek hospitality and the Chess Academy of Chalcis who refused to accept the illegal decision of the Turkish Chess Federation to ban their participation in competitions within and outside Turkey, a decision that (unfortunately) the Greek Chess Federation accepted and, moreover, illegally imposed its practice to the Greek territory.

After a press conference, at which the Ataliks were given time and space to tell about the conflict, two classical games were played on the first day. The rate of play was 90 minutes for the whole game, with 30 seconds increment per move. The husband beat the wife twice. Also on the next day Suat was clearly stronger than Ekaterina: four rapid games (at 15 minutes plus 10 seconds increment) ended in 3.5-0.5.

"A match with a view". During the match both the Turkish and Greek flags stood on the table  

In the evening the grandmaster gave a simul in front of the hotel against 18 players from different clubs, including the President and coach of the Chess Union of Evia, Panagiotis Giannoutsos, the President of the Thebes Chess Club, Evangelos Kalaitzis, and the brothers George and Dimitris Papakonstantinou representing the Chess Union of Amfissa. Atalik won all games.

On the third day the two spouses played 8 blitz games and this time Ekaterina managed to tie the score: 4-4. There were cups, medals and plaques for the two participants, who declared that they now consider Chalkida as their "second hometown" (the Ataliks live in Istanbul). The organizers stated that "through institutional factors" they will "seek to lift the unfair cancellation of the tournament which was imposed by the Greek Chess Federation and organize a strong tournament in 2013".

Below are all the games with a few annotations by Suat Atalik.

PGN file

Atalik vs Atalik 2012 | Match score


A group photo with organizers and simul participants, at the end of a small but unique event

*Update: as Natalija Pogonina tweeted to us, there was also a match between Laurent Fressinet and Almira Skripchenko a few years ago.

Peter Doggers's picture
Author: Peter Doggers



chesshire cat's picture

An article calmly discussing a husband beating his wife...shame on you!

George Tsounis's picture

Do not worry, the punishment for each victory Swat was his wife to visit the shops of Chalkida

RuralRob's picture

I guess Suat will be sleeping downstairs on the sofa tonight.

Hugh Jass's picture
Anthony Migchels's picture

what's this all about? Does he hate Jews or what??

Anthony Migchels's picture

Good to see an old fashioned marriage with the right (and normal) balance of power.

He's good enough to fight in the outside world, she's good enough to give the kids a good start in life.

DirkBredemeier's picture

Please google Anthony Migchels and look at his countless comments on conspirancy and other subjects. Judge for yourself.

Anthony Migchels's picture

oops! the thoughtpolice is in the house!

Don't worry man, the political correct maffia is strong in Chess. You don't mind a little healthy machism, do you? We're a dying breed, but we have a right to exist too!

Mauricio Valdes's picture

I predict divorce papers arriving soon, who will get full costudy on the chess set?

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