Cook County Jail hosted the largest international chess competition for detained individuals on Wednesday, with 41 teams from around the world participating in the two-day round-robin competition, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.
The competition officially named the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners and sanctioned by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), features teams from jails and prisons in 30 different countries, including international female and juvenile teams.
“It is incredibly exciting to see program that started at Cook County Jail expand to include players from around the world, and we are grateful for the partnership we have with FIDE,” Sheriff Dart said. “No matter where you live or who you are, the lessons chess teaches transcend the game. Like life, chess rewards those who are able to adapt to the challenges put in front of them and those who take into consideration the future consequences of their actions.”
This is the sixth international competition that the Cook County Jail team has participated in to date, and at the end of play on Wednesday, the Cook County Jail team was in 2nd place in its bracket with 4 wins and 2 losses and will advance to the final round on Thursday.
The Cook County Jail’s chess program started in 2012 and has hosted numerous chess dignitaries over the years, including chess grandmaster Anatoly Karpov. It began hosting international matches the following year, and in 2019, Cook County Jail hosted the first multi-national, facing teams from six other countries. Earlier this year, the Cook County Jail team took second place in a smaller international tournament leading up to the current competition.
In March 2020, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office signed an agreement with FIDE formalizing the organization’s logistical support of future international online matches through their Social Service Commission. In turn, Cook County Jail will serve as the hub for FIDE-led International Chess for Freedom events.
Since its inception, approximately 1,200 individuals have participated in the chess program while in custody at the Jail. Program participants practice weekly, and the eight players representing Cook County Jail in this tournament were chosen based on skill.
“We are proud to have hosted and competed in such a historic tournament,” Sheriff Dart said. “It is so important to have programs like this for those in custody, not just because research has found programs can make jails and prisons safer places overall, but also because it enabled people from all over the world to share an experience they enjoy.”
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