Four persons deprived of liberty who are under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) won the men’s second Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners.
In a statement, the BJMP team from the General Santos City Jail-Male Dormitory bagged the crown, besting team Colombia in the championship stage by scores of 2.5-1.5 in game one and 3.5-.05 in the second game.
Team coach Jail Officer 1 Cedrix Cabangal cited the support of the BJMP officials that raised the confidence of the PDL woodpushers in 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.
This marked the second time the team joined in the biggest-ever chess event among correctional facilities in the world placing fifth last year.
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.
BJMP chief Jail Director Allan Iral extended his warmest congratulations to the team for bringing pride and honor not only to the bureau but to the country as well.
“The whole BJMP family is very proud on the success of our PDL in the recently concluded second Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners,” Iral said.
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 being played online and live-streamed on Chess TV and FIDE’s Youtube channel. (Chito A. Chavez)