3rd Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners gets underway
A record-breaking 118 teams from 50 countries are participating in the 3rd Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, which began today on October 11. The biggest-ever chess event among correctional facilities, organized by FIDE and the Chicago Cook County Sheriff’s Office, is a part of the Chess for Freedom program and continuation of the international championship first held in 2019 and the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners of 2021 and 2022. The opening ceremony took place online and featured FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Cook County Sheriff Tomas J. Dart and Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board Dana Reizniece-Ozola. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich warmly greeted the event participants: “We all make mistakes, and we have to live with the consequences. Nevertheless, we all possess the inherent right to a better life and a second chance, another chance. Your participation in this event is proof of that. Chess can help in living a better life. It teaches us skills which are relevant for a good life – such as patience, order, focus, fighting even when things are tough, and finding a solution in a difficult position. But chess is also a tool that can bring us together and can prove to be a gateway to another – better – world.” Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart, who introduced the chess program to Cook County Jail more than ten years ago, spoke about valuable life lessons chess gives to people: “Chess is a marvellous sport. It gives you so many different tools, but particularly to the individuals who are incarcerated. It gives them a sense of accomplishment, an ability to understand the need to think ahead, move by move, not just the immediate. And for us, for all these years, it has been a marvellous thing for our detainees. I want to particularly thank my staff and the staff of FIDE for all of the work that you’ve done for all of these years. It’s truly you who have made it a success. We are thrilled to have you all with us today, and we are looking forward to a very successful tournament. As always, we would prefer to win, but, at the end of the day, we want everyone to enjoy themselves and take away from this that you too can accomplish things if you put your mind to it.” Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board Dana Reizniece-Ozola narrated an inspiring story of chess changing a person’s life in prison: “Today, I want to share with you the profound impact chess can have, even within the confines of four walls. Some of you may be familiar with the story of Claude Bloodgood. In 1970, he was sentenced to death for the murder, a sentence later commuted to life in prison. During his time behind bars, Bloodgood became an avid chess player, dedicating thousands of hours to the game by playing with fellow inmates, guards, and even engaging in correspondence chess. His dedication was so remarkable that he qualified for the US Chess Championship, though circumstances prevented him from participating. Nevertheless, within the prison walls, he taught chess to thousands of inmates, authored a chess book, and was often interviewed by the media. Bloodgood’s case shows us that chess is more than just a game – it is a tool for rehabilitation and personal growth, even in a seemingly incomprehensible position. Behind the walls, chess can be a source of resilience and self-improvement.” A record number of participants is the result of consolidated efforts of organizers, officials, government officers, members of the penitentiary administrations and volunteers involved in introducing chess to inmates. They all note the positive impact of the game on prisoners. Three separate tournaments started today, with men (78 teams), women (22 teams) and young inmates (18 teams) competing at the group stage. Mongolia did exceptionally well today. The country’s teams qualified for the next round in all three sections. Mongolia has been the most successful country in the history of this competition so far. Its men’s team was a winner of the inaugural event in 2021; a year later, Mongolian female inmates won the women’s section. Mongolia has a long-standing tradition of teaching chess in prisons. Since 1956, chess tournaments have been held in all correctional units of the country. One of the pleasant surprises of the day was a strong performance by the Zimbabwe women’s team, who debuted in the championship today. Two years ago, the country’s men’s team, the only representative of the African continent in the inaugural edition of the tournament, made a splash by reaching the final and narrowly losing to Mongolia. This year, Zimbabwe added another feather to their cap as they also have a women’s team that made it to the event’s next stage. Laura Chawe, a Zimbabwe women’s team member, said she was very excited to participate in her first-ever international tournament. “I am happy with the opportunity to represent my country. I hope we will enjoy the next days of chess.” The team of Maula prison, Malawi, also advanced to the next stage of the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship in the men’s section. Its players have been training hard and had a test tournament last week. Chess in Prison program at Maula Prison was launched just a year ago as a tool to improve the quality of life for prisoners. The Gift of Chess Foundation, in partnership with Dadaz Chess Academy as its country ambassador, provided the prison’s inmates with chess sets. They were also trained by Susan Namangale, founder of Dadaz Chess Academy and the Global Head of The Gift of Chess. Alongside the tournament, the Cook County Jail, Chicago, USA, hosted a meeting with representatives of the consulates of United Kindom, Germany, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Mexico and Mongolia, who visited the jail to greet the participants of the championship and take part in the round table dedicated to Chess in Prisons initiatives. Photo: Cook County Jail Tomorrow, 20 men teams, 6 women and 6 youth teams
Egyptian Chess Federation on World Cadet U8, U10 and U12 Championships 2023
Cairo 11th October 2023 To: All Participants of the WCCC 2023 Egypt Dear chess friends, I’d like to assure you that the Egyptian Government ensures security of all players and participants of WCCC 2023 at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The World Cadets Chess Championships 2023 is organized under the patronage of Egyptian Minister of Youth & Sports at Sharm El Sheikh Egypt 14 – 27 October 2023. Best regards, Dr. Hesham Elgendy, President Letter by Egyptian Chess Federation (pdf)
FIDE World Junior Rapid Championship: A Thrilling Start to a Grand Battle
The highly anticipated World Junior Rapid Chess Championship commenced on October 10, bringing together some of the brightest young chess talents from around the world at the “Maria Carta” Municipal Theatre in Pula, Sardinia. Hosted by the Italian Chess Federation, this prestigious tournament promises to be a battleground of skill, strategy, and intense competition. The technical meeting took place in the morning, with a significant turnout of registered players. Led by the Chief Arbiter, IA Stephane Escafre, the arbitral team provided essential instructions to both players and accompanying personnel regarding the regulations and guidelines of this event. The opening ceremony set the stage for an exciting competition. Chess enthusiasts, dignitaries, and players gathered to witness the beginning of the World Junior Rapid Chess Champion. On stage, the tournament director, GM Roberto Mogranzini, welcomed everyone and left the floor to FIDE Secretary General Lukasz Turlej and the mayor Walter Calabasino, who made the first ceremonial move in the competition. In the first round, all eyes were on the top boards, where even before the tournament began, the players garnered significant attention from spectators and chess enthusiasts. The duel on the first board Sadhwani – Casadio was among the most followed games, although due to an inaccuracy made by Black, the rating favourite scored a confident victory. However, in his next game, Sadhwani suffered a defeat at the hands of 16-seed Robert Piliposyan of Armenia, who is sharing the top position with Tobias Koelle (Germany) and Abilmansur Abdilkhair (Kazakhstan) after three rounds of play. In the girls’ section, Paula Hernandez Diaz of Mexico and Govhar Beyullayeva from Azerbaijan (pictured below, left) took a great start, netting 3/3 and jointly leading the race after the first day. Anastasia Kirtadze of Georgia is trailing the leaders by a half-point, while the top seed, Amina Kairbekova (Kazakhstan), is in 6th place with 2/3. Standings after Round 3: Open Girls The first day of the World Junior Rapid Chess Championship lived up to its billing as a showcase of young chess talent. With gripping battles, surprising upsets, and moments of brilliance, the stage is set for an unforgettable tournament. As the competition progresses, chess enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await the unfolding drama and the emergence of the next generation of chess champions. Photos: Maria Balashova Official website: juniorrapidandblitz2023.com/