The National Draughts Federation (NDF) joined the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in organizing the first international chess/draughts competition for prisoners from Georgia, Latvia, and England that was held on March 5, 2026 with the first (trial) online Chess and Draughts tournament for prisoners. The international program for prisoners was first introduced in 2021 by the cooperative agreement between the Cook County Sheriff and the International Chess Federation FIDE as tools for education and social inclusion in prisons across different countries.

The current international tournament included eight teams from three countries — England, Georgia, and Latvia in three categories: men’s, women’s, and juvenile correctional facilities (under the age of 20) with 4 players in each team.

The LiDraughts play platform was used and Brazilian checkers were chosen for this tournament.

The first online tournament bringing together men, women, and youth teams playing in one mixed group was organized on March 5 on the chess.com platform and directed by the IA Nebojsa Baralic. Eight teams from Georgia, England, and Latvia participated in this first-of-its-kind event, combining all three Chess for Freedom program categories – Men, Women, and Youth – in a single pool.

The Georgia Men’s chess team claimed the title, winning all four matches. England Men, England Youth, and Latvian teams tied for second place. A strong finish by the Georgia Women team (top Female team) and England Youth team (top Youth team) validated the initial concept that all three participant groups can compete in this mixed format.  

The event also featured the first session where all teams competed in a draughts tournament organized by the NDF-USA and directed by the IA and President of NDF Andriy Shcherbatyuk, First Vice-Presidents of NDF Alexander Rudnitsky and NDF Vice-President Leonard Voronov.

The Latvian team won all three rounds and came out on top with a perfect score, Georgian Women and Youth teams shared second place.

In the combined results of the event, the Latvian male team from Jelgava prison, led by the coach IM Sergejs Klimakovs, secured the overall first place. The Georgia men’s team finished second, while the Georgia women’s team completed the podium.

National Draughts Federation strongly believes that chess and checkers (draughts) are powerful tools for social rehabilitation in correctional institutions and possess significant social potential in programs aimed at the rehabilitation of inmates.

Chess and checkers are more than just games: in conditions of incarceration, they become instruments of education, self-discipline, and personal growth. These intellectual games develop strategic thinking, the ability to analyze and make decisions, concentration, logical reasoning, responsibility for making decisions, as well as discipline and patience. Participation in such programs creates a positive environment and promotes the development of self-control, respect for opponents, fair competition, patience, and adherence to rules.

Moreover, chess and checkers create a constructive educational environment within correctional facilities, reducing levels of aggression and, in a long term, helping inmates develop skills that can help them to be prepared for successful reintegration into society.