The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced the launch of the fifth edition of the World Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, scheduled to take place from October 14 to 16, 2025, on the Chess.com platform, as part of the "Chess for Freedom" initiative organised by the federation in collaboration with a number of correctional institutions around the world, with the aim of supporting the social and psychological rehabilitation of inmates and promoting their positive integration into society through the practice of chess.
This year's tournament will see the participation of 135 teams from 57 countries, an unprecedented number in the history of the competition since its launch in 2019. Teams will compete in three main categories: open, women's, and youth, with each team consisting of four players from different correctional institutions, with the possibility of reserve players. The matches are played in 10-minute sessions with an additional 5 seconds per move, and are supervised and refereed by a select group of FIDE-certified international referees to ensure fairness and full compliance with the rules of fair play.
The tournament will be held in three stages: the group stage on October 14 to determine the qualifiers, followed by the championship stage on October 15, while the final matches and ranking will take place on October 16. The competitions are organized electronically from within participating prisons on different continents, amid meticulous technical and security preparations that include camera surveillance and secure internet connection to ensure the smooth and transparent running of the matches.
The International Federation explained that this tournament has become an inspiring model for using chess as a means of rehabilitation and character building, noting that the program has succeeded in recent years in expanding participation from only ten countries in the first edition to more than fifty countries currently. It also noted that many countries have adopted chess as part of their reform and training programs within their penal institutions thanks to its positive results in developing thinking skills, mental calmness, and discipline.
The tournament concludes with an award ceremony for the winning teams and a highlight of the inspiring human experiences of the participants, reaffirming chess's ability to bring about positive change and build hope in the lives of inmates.