Saint Lucia participated in the inaugural Continental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners last month, with the Bordelais Correctional Facility (BCF) placing 13th out of 19 nations in the Americas leg.
The event, organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), aimed to provide incarcerated individuals with meaningful opportunities for intellectual engagement, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society. It marked a significant step in FIDE’s global Chess for Freedom initiative, which brings structured, competitive chess to correctional institutions.
The Championships featured four regional tournaments: Africa (May 13), Americas (May 16), Europe (May 20), and Asia (May 23). Each country could field up to three teams of four players, with unlimited substitutes. Seven rounds were played using the Swiss System format on Chess.com, with a time control of ten minutes plus a five-second increment per move.
Saint Lucia entered one team, supported by four alternates. Terence Lindo, Ratings Officer at the Saint Lucia Chess Federation, trained the team and facilitated its participation. He noted the players responded positively, showing growth in both skill and team spirit.
Stannet Charles, a Correctional Officer in the BCF’s Programmes Department, praised the initiative’s rehabilitative impact. “Chess is a game of strategy, patience, and critical thinking,” he said. “Through mental stimulation, emotional well-being, social interaction, and educational and vocational benefits, chess can serve as a powerful tool in preparing inmates for successful reintegration into society.”
In the Americas competition, El Salvador claimed victory in both the Open and Women’s categories, while Trinidad and Tobago secured the top spot in the Youth division. In Africa, Zimbabwe triumphed in the Open and Women’s events, with Ghana winning the Youth section. Serbia, Ukraine, and England took top honours in Europe’s Open, Women, and Youth categories, respectively. In Asia, Mongolia won the Open category, and India dominated the Women and Youth divisions.
FIDE launched the Chess for Freedom initiative in 2021, and it has since introduced chess into correctional systems worldwide. The organisation views the game as a transformative tool for education, personal development, and social reintegration.
The programme continues later this year with the Fifth Intercontinental Chess Championship for Prisoners, scheduled for October 14–16, 2025.
