The FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners is back with its fourth edition, and this year is the largest event yet, with over 115 teams from 51 countries competing. This championship which brings together inmates from around the world over chessboards is an integral part of FIDE's mission to demonstrate the power of chess in transforming lives, especially within correctional facilities.

The Championship is part of the Chess for Freedom initiative, a joint program by FIDE and the Cook County Sheriff's Office (Chicago, USA), launched in May 2021. The inaugural event that year coincided with the International Day of Education in Prisons (October 13) and saw 32 teams from 31 countries participate. Since then, the event has grown significantly, and this year's edition promises even more exciting competition.

Day 1 saw the group stage, which comprised 10 groups in the open section, three in the women and three in the youth. Each group played in a round-robin format, with the teams paired according to time zones. Therefore, the day was split into three segments: Asia, Europe and, Africa, and the Americas. Each segment started with opening speeches by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board Dana Reizniece-Ozola, and FIDE Social Commission chair and the Swiss Chess Federation President Andre Vogtlin.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich ushered in the start of the tournament and expressed his personal sentiment about the event and the Chess for Freedom Programme: "Over the years, I have heard many stories from those who have taken part in the event about how chess helped to improve their critical thinking, emotional well-being, and enhance their social skills, something which is important for their future life, helping them to find a better place in the world."

Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board Dana Reizniece-Ozola shared a wonderful idiom to describe the start of the championships:  "From Latvia, another autumn, another Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners is on. We here in Latvia say that autumn is the time when you reap the harvest, reap the fruits of the whole year. So I believe that this is the same with the Intercontinental Championship because all year round, I believe many already, since the last tournament finished, have been working hard, training, preparing for this very day, for this very competition, to show the best, to show the team spirit, to show the fighting abilities, to show the fair play, to show the ability to represent your institution, your country in this worldwide event. Let's have a lot of fun, let's have a lot of chess, let's enjoy and let the strongest and the most motivated win."

Finally, FIDE Social Commission chair and the Swiss Chess Federation President, Andre Vogtlin, shared his sentiments all the way from the border between Switzerland and Italy at a height of 2500m! He used the open Schengen border as a metaphor for the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners "beyond countries, beyond continents."

Adding to this, he noted the exciting news of FIDE's Social Chess Year 2025, adding: "We will have not only prisons but refugee camps, slums, clinics with addicts, with Autism Spectrum Disorder and much more social groups playing and celebrating this huge chess tool, social tool, who has unique benefits for all of us and I would like to invite you to join this event, this movement and to be in contact with my team who will also be inviting you to all these events."

The broadcast was accompanied by various videos, including a preview of this special Year of Social Chess, which can be watched on YouTube.

The first day set a positive and hopeful tone, celebrating chess's ability to change lives. The competition was fierce, with many games seeing dramatic swings, as engine evaluations fluctuated wildly until the final result was secured.

While some groups were dominated by certain teams, others saw tight, unpredictable battles. The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, which will be held tomorrow, September 10.

Let's take a look at the standings:

Open Group 1

Open Group 2

Open Group 3

Open Group 4

Open Group 5

Open Group 6

 

Open Group 7

Open Group 8

Open Group 9

Open Group 10

Women's Group 1

Women's Group 2

Women's Group 3

Youth Group 1

Youth Group 2

Youth Group 3

During the broadcast, the commentators spoke with David Acheampong, founder of Mentors Chess Academy in Accra, Ghana, who was live from the prison where his Youth team was competing. Acheampong shared the players' excitement after securing their spot in the semi-finals and their determination to prepare for the next day's matches.

Last year, India took first place in the Male and Youth groups, while Mongolia claimed victory in the Female group. Both countries are well-positioned for another strong showing this year, but with the tournament's expansion, the competition remains wide open. With teams fighting for glory and personal pride, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 4th FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners. The chessboard will decide who rises to the top, but every player has already won in their own way.