Uniting continents behind bars: 5th FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners

As part of the Chess for Freedom project and in celebration of the FIDE Year of Social Chess, the International Chess Federation is proud to present the 5th edition of the FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, taking place from October 14 to 16, 2025. This special event underscores FIDE’s commitment to using chess as a force for positive change, offering hope, connection, and new perspectives to those behind bars.

Since its launch, the Intercontinental Championship has become a powerful symbol of how chess can transform lives and break down barriers. Organized in collaboration with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office (Chicago, USA), the tournament gives incarcerated individuals around the world a rare opportunity to represent their institutions, demonstrate their skills, and engage in meaningful competition beyond prison walls.

Teams and Composition

Teams from correctional facilities across the globe are invited to participate, with each country able to register up to three teams: one representing male inmates, one for female inmates, and one for juveniles under 20 years old. Countries that hold national prison chess tournaments may be granted additional teams. In cases where needed, teams can include players from multiple facilities.

Each team is composed of four players with an unlimited number of substitutes, all of whom must be incarcerated individuals. Their names and identities will remain protected unless disclosure is permitted by local laws for media purposes.

Format

The event will take place on Chess.com using a time control of 10 minutes plus a 5-second increment per move. On October 14, teams will compete in round-robin groups of up to eight teams, grouped by time zone to ensure fair play conditions. No two teams from the same country will be placed in the same group.

The top two teams from each group will move on to the Championship Round on October 15. On October 16, the best teams from each category; men’s, women’s, and youth, will battle for the championship title, while the next two will fight for the third-place spot.

To ensure integrity and fairness, strict regulations govern the event. Each site must have a secure connection and a video setup covering the playing area via Zoom. Fair play checks and oversight will be rigorously enforced throughout.

Registration

Participation is free of charge. Correctional facilities must complete the official registration form (forms.gle/2SbUGJCnUSP7RQrs9) and confirm their entry by emailing Tournament Organizer Mikhail Korenman (mikhail.korenman@ccsheriff.org). The registration deadline is September 14, 2025, with pairings announced on October 7 and a mandatory technical meeting scheduled for the week of September 15.

Winning teams will receive special certificates and global recognition as champions of this remarkable initiative. Final standings will be determined by match points, individual scores, direct encounters, and tie-break criteria.

Registration form: forms.gle/2SbUGJCnUSP7RQrs9

Tournament regulations (PDF)

More info about the program: chessforfreedom.fide.com