FIDE Chess for Freedom Program Leader Visits Georgia
FIDE’s Chess for Freedom program continues to grow around the world. Recently, project leader Mikhail Korenman visited Georgia to strengthen and expand the initiative in the country.
During his visit, Korenman met officials at the Special Penitentiary Service under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. He discussed the development of the Chess for Freedom project with key representatives including Inga Sarjveladze, Director of the Resocialization Rehabilitation Department, and Nana Koridze, the Deputy Director. The meeting also included Vasil Liparteliani, the Chess for Freedom project coordinator in Georgia.
Chess as a Tool for Rehabilitation
In Georgia, the Chess for Freedom program is an important part of rehabilitation activities inside prisons. At the women’s prison, the initiative is guided by Nestan Verulashvili and focuses on social development and personal growth.
The event attracted several distinguished guests. These included Paata Salia, the Minister of Justice of Georgia, Member of Parliament Nino Tsilosani, and the First Lady of Georgia Tamar Bagrationi. Their presence highlighted the strong national support for the program.
Visits to Prison Chess Programs
Korenman also visited men’s prison #16, where director Zaza Jamatashvili introduced the various rehabilitation and resocialization programs available to inmates.
During the visit, Korenman met members of the Georgian male prison chess team and learned about their progress and achievements through the program.
Historic Mixed Online Tournament
A unique online chess tournament was organized on March 5 on the Chess.com platform. The event was directed by International Arbiter Nebojsa Baralic.
This tournament was special because it brought together men, women, and youth teams in a single mixed group. Eight teams from Georgia, England, and Latvia participated in this groundbreaking competition.
Tournament Results
The Georgia Men’s Team dominated the event and won the tournament by winning all four matches, scoring 8 points. The England Men’s Team, England Youth Team, and Latvia Team shared second place with 5 match points each.
The Georgia Women’s Team finished as the top female team, while the England Youth Team was recognized as the best youth team. Their performances showed that players from all categories can successfully compete together in a mixed format.
Draughts Tournament Adds More Fun
The event also included a draughts tournament organized by the US National Draughts Federation and directed by Andriy Shetbatyuk.
The Latvian team performed brilliantly and won all three rounds to finish first with a perfect score. The Georgia Women’s Team and Georgia Youth Team shared second place with four points.
Overall Event Standings
When combining results from all activities, the Latvian male team from Jelgava prison finished in first place with 11 points. The team was coached by Sergejs Klimakovs.
The Georgia Men’s Team secured second place with 10 points, while the Georgia Women’s Team completed the podium with 7 points.
Chess Changing Lives
Programs like Chess for Freedom show how chess can positively impact lives. By promoting education, discipline, and critical thinking, chess helps support rehabilitation and personal development for inmates worldwide.
With growing participation and innovative events, the initiative continues to demonstrate the power of chess as a tool for social change.
Photos: FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
