Record 140 Teams Compete in 6th Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners

The 6th Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners began on October 13, featuring incarcerated players from around the globe in a three-day online competition.

This year's event set a new record with 140 teams from 56 countries participating, competing in men's, women's, and youth categories across various time zones. The matches follow a time control of 10 minutes plus a 5-second increment starting from the first move.

Organized by FIDE and the Cook County Sheriff's Office, the championship aims to use chess as a tool for education and social engagement within correctional facilities. The opening ceremony included remarks from FIDE President Timur Turlov and Acting Chair Dana Reizniece, who emphasized the lessons chess can impart about life. On the first day, teams were grouped by time zones, with several teams achieving perfect scores, including Mongolia 1 and Ukraine. Malawi's teams also performed well, with three qualifying for the quarterfinals, reflecting the growing interest in chess in correctional settings.