Melik Duyar
World Photographic Memory Champion · MEMORIAD® Founding President
Melik Duyar
Born November 4, 1956 · Istanbul, Turkey
Melik Duyar
Melik Duyar, born November 4, 1956, is from Istanbul, Turkey. He is called "the man who forgot to forget" by the Turkish media. As well as being one of the early pioneer mentathletes in the world, Mr Duyar is also one of the few leaders promoting brain training and mental literacy in the world.
In 1994, after receiving one gold and two bronze medals in the World Memory Championships in London, he was presented among the first top ten mentathletes in the world by the Buzan's Book of Genius.
Dubbed "Mr. Memory" by Turkish actor Cihan Ünal, in 2014 he was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records' "Mind and Memory Section" as the founder of "MEMORIAD World Mental Olympics".
He is a math, memory and speed reading trainer, motivational speaker and media personality. Duyar has appeared on numerous TV shows and published many brain training related books such as Photographic Memory Techniques, Mega Mathematics, Mega Mental Arithmetic, Child, IQ and Memory and Mega Speed Reading.
Early Life, Education & Career
From Istanbul to world championships
M.E.T.U. — Civil Engineering
Graduated 1980, Ankara, Turkey. Additional graduate studies in same field plus Mechanical Engineering courses.
INTAN Institute — Kuala Lumpur
1986 · Malaysian Government scholarship · "Public Administration Courses"
University of Minnesota
1988–1989 · Hubert Humphrey scholarship (USA Gov.) · Graduate Economics + Leadership Courses
Exeter University
1993–1994 · Jean Monnet scholarship (EU) · M.A. in European Union Economy
When he was a student in the USA, Duyar developed some card counting techniques and practiced them at the Casinos of Atlantic City in New Jersey at weekends. These card counting trials at casinos led him to take place in memory and mental calculation sports. During those years, Mr. Duyar started to deal with scientific studies on memorizing and speed learning skills.
Mr. Duyar worked as an engineer and the Training Center Manager in Iskenderun Iron and Steel Factories between 1980 and 1992. He also worked as the "Master Trainer" in some of the World Bank Projects. Focusing on memory, speed learning, brain training, development of mental potential and creative thinking techniques from about 1988, he has been still executing studies on these subjects and giving trainings, seminars and conferences.
As a Mentathlete
1994 World Memory Championships, London
During his education in the UK, Mr Duyar participated in the World Memory Championship in 1994 arranged by The Brain Foundation in London. He won a gold medal in the "Memorization of Paintings and Images (Photographic Memory)" category. He also received two silver medals in the "One Hour Playing Cards" and the "Flight Disk Challenge" categories. He became fourth rank in the "One Hour Number" category.
Gold Medal
Memorization of Paintings & Images (Photographic Memory)
Silver Medal
One Hour Playing Cards
Silver Medal
Flight Disk Challenge
4th Place
One Hour Number category
Top 10 Memorisers
Presented among the world's first top 10 mentathletes.
World Memory Championship
1994 London World Memory Championship records.
As an Organizer — MEMORIAD®
Founding the World Mental Olympics
Mr. Duyar initiated his dream of founding the "MEMORIAD World Mental Olympics" in 2005. He registered the brand "MEMORIAD" worldwide and his software team prepared and distributed a software called "Memoriad Competition Simulator" free of charge. In 2006 six million copies were downloaded worldwide.
MEMORIAD 2008 — Istanbul
First World Mental Olympics at Marmara Hotel. Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism as main sponsor. US$33,000 prize pool.
MEMORIAD 2012 — Antalya
Second edition, main sponsor: "Meeting Point" international tourism corporation.
MEMORIAD 2016 — Las Vegas
15 sub-categories. Main sponsor: Zappos Company. US$42,500 prize pool.
Guinness 2014
Approved World Mental Records of MEMORIAD published in "Mind and Memory" section of Guinness World Records.
"MEMORIAD World Mental Olympics" made a big impact in the world and for the first time in 2014 the approved World Mental Records were published in the "Mind and Memory" category of Guinness World Records including photographs and achievements of competitors with Memoriad founder Melik Duyar.
2015 — International Brand Personality Award
Awarded by The BrandLaureate Foundation for outstanding contributions to Brain Training and World Mental Sports.
2018 — Netflix Turkey
Starred in the promotional video "Altered Carbon" for Netflix Turkey.
Publications & As an Educator
Books, lectures and conferences
Photographic Memory Techniques
Foundational work on visual memory and recall methodologies.
Mega Mental Arithmetics
Mental calculation techniques and exercises.
Mega Mathematics
Mental math and memory techniques combined.
Child, IQ and Memory
Brain development for children.
Mega Speed Reading
Speed reading and comprehension techniques.
Mega Innovation
Creative thinking and innovation techniques.
Since about 1992, Mr. Duyar has regularly given lectures, presentations and conferences at schools, universities and corporate meetings. He states that one of his personal missions is to use education and MEMORIAD World Mental Olympics to elevate mental calculation, memory and speed reading confidence and self-esteem in adults and children.
Videos
Award ceremony, Netflix commercial and memory demonstration
The Brand Laureate Award Ceremony (2015)
Netflix Turkey — Altered Carbon (2018)
Memory & Brain Training Demonstration