GenSan inmates named champions in online int’l chess tilt

WINNERS. The General Santos City Jail-Male Dormitory Chess Team representing the Philippines rules the second Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners (Men’s Section) on Monday (Oct. 17, 2022). This is the second time the team joined the biggest-ever chess event among correctional facilities in the world. (File photo: Wander Fleur/Unsplash)

MANILA – Four persons deprived of liberty (PDL) from the General Santos City Jail – Male Dormitory were named champions of an online chess tournament for detainees.

The General Santos City Jail MD Chess Team, the country’s flag bearer, defeated Team Colombia and dominated the championship stage of the second Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners (Men’s Section), scoring 2,5 – 1,5 in Game 1; and 3,5 -.05 in Game 2 on Monday night.

Jail Officer 1 Cedrix Cabangal of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the team’s coach, said he was confident that their team would top this year’s tournament.

“I saw the potential of the team. They are very competitive and determined to join again (in the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners) and become champions,” Cabangal said in a statement.

This is the second time the team joined the biggest-ever chess event among correctional facilities in the world.

Last year, the team had tried their luck but missed to secure the top spot after settling on fifth place during the final round of the event.

Over 85 teams from 46 countries participated in this year’s Intercontinental Online Championship for Prisoners, which started on Oct. 13, the International Day of Education in Prisons.

Meanwhile, BJMP chief Jail Director Allan Iral congratulated the team for bringing pride and honor not only to the Jail Bureau but to the country as well.

“Sa kabila ng kanilang sitwasyon, hindi tayo binigo ng ating mga PDL chess players at ng kanilang coach na si JO1 Cabangal. Bagamat nakakulong, nagawa pa rin nila na ipinalo ang laban at tanghalin bilang kampyeonato. Ang aming pagsaludo at buong pusong pagpupugay sa kanilang ipinamalas na galing, determinasyon, at talino na tunay nga namang pang ‘world class’ (Despite their situation, our PDL chess players and their coach, JO1 Cabangal, did not let us down. Despite being imprisoned, they still managed to win the match and be crowned champions. Our salute and wholehearted tribute to their demonstrated talent, determination, and talent which is truly world class),” he added.

The Intercontinental Online Chess Tournament for Prisoners is a program organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) as a part of its #ChessForFreedom program.

This aims to introduce chess as a tool for education and social inclusion in prisons of different countries.

The tournament is played online and live-streamed on Chess TV and FIDE’s Youtube channel.

The championship is open for teams of four players representing any correctional facility, without any restriction on the age and gender of prisoners.