Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
A proverb from Henry Ford goes: ‘The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.’ For some thousand-odd prisoners from cells around the world, as they bide time for their mistakes, they have been learning some moves across 64-square cells of black and white – grey matter for your brain cells.
And the best from certain countries pitted their wits against each other at the fourth FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for the past three days, at the end of which inmates from Dubai Police’s Punitive and Correctional Establishments have managed to win the overall title.
They beat competition from a field of 116 from 51 countries after five rounds of intense competition.
The championship, organised by the world chess body and the Sheriff’s office of Cook County in Chicago, USA, is open for teams made of four players in three categories – men’s, women’s, and juvenile correctional facilities.
In the final round, the Dubai inmates defeated their counterparts from Salvador’s Punitive and Correctional Establishments.
While congratulating the team, Major General Marwan Julfar, Director of the General Department of Punitive and Correctional Establishments (GDPCE), also passed on credit for the team’s preparation and motivation to Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, and follow-up of Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander for Criminal Investigation Affairs.
He also praised the technical and administrative teams for giving the inmates the necessary assistance.
These players were chosen after a competition involved 250 inmates who had previously participated in an internal tournament organised in collaboration with the Dubai Chess and Culture Club.
Dubai Police holds tournaments every year for inmates in table tennis and billiards apart from chess.
Earlier in May, on the initiative of Lt-Gen. Al Marri, a tournament for top chess players of the world was organised; the Dubai Police Masters carried a prize money of $125,000.
Maj. Gen. Julfar highlighted that the GDPCE also engages inmates in numerous sports tournaments, mental games, and educational and training programmes on a local and worldwide scale each year.
He emphasised that these activities are critical for improving physical health, channelling energy productively, and helping people intellectually and emotionally.
“Moreover, they help fill their free time and increase motivation through individual and team competitions,” he added.
Inmate BB, through Dubai Police, expressed his appreciation for the unwavering support provided to inmates in various sports that help them channel their energies positively.
He mentioned that the final match against the Salvadoran team was extremely challenging, but he was happy that the Dubai team prevailed.
Inmate AA stated that the tournament was a great experience and that he has loved chess since childhood.
He viewed the championship as a personal milestone, allowing him to recognise his abilities in a game that combines mental strategy with physical engagement.
He thanked Dubai Police for the opportunity to participate and showcase his skills.
Each country could have up to three teams, but provisions allow for an extra team if slots were available.
Accordingly, countries such as chess powerhouses India and Serbia even has four teams across the different pots of teams.
Being a part of the Chess for Freedom programme and a continuation of the international championships among prisoners first held in 2019, the event aims at introducing chess as a tool for education and social inclusion in prisons of different countries.
