Background
He was born in Turkey in 1964, represented Turkey in the World Junior Chess Championship in 1983, and was their top board for several Chess Olympiads.
He was born in Turkey in 1964, represented Turkey in the World Junior Chess Championship in 1983, and was their top board for several Chess Olympiads.
He went to Galatasaray Lycee and studied Psychology in Boğaziçi University.
As of the July 2009 FIDE rating list, he is ranked number 165 in the world and number two in Turkey, behind Mikhail Gurevich. Despite this, and his current residence in Istanbul, he had disputes with chess organizers in his country, so he declared himself to be a resident of Bosnia and Herzegovina, his ancestral home. During the 2000 Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Atalik insisted on playing for Bosnia rather than Turkey.
As a result, the organizers of the Olympiad banned him from the competition.
After the selection of the new national chess federation he returned to the Turkish national team In 2003, he took first at March del Plata.
In 2007 he tied for first with Michael Roiz at the Gorenje Valjevo Tournament. Former world championship challenger Nigel Short, who also played in the World Junior Championship in 1983 was his best manitoba
He was the only Grandmaster registered in the Turkish Chess Federation in Turkey beginning in 1994 and ending in 2005, when Mikhail Gurevich took up residence there.
Suat Atalik vs Gyula Sax, Maroczy mem 1997, Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical, Noa Variation, San Remo Variation (E37), 1-0
Florian Handke vs Suat Atalik, 16th open 2000, King"s Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Donner Defense (E94), 0-1
Zurab Sturua vs Suat Atalik, Bled Olympiad 2002, Slav Defense: Chameleon Variation, Advance System (D15), 0-1
Suat Atalik vs Pablo Zarnicki, Bled Olympiad 2002, Queen"s Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian. Classical Variation (E12), 1-0.