Cook County Jail Chess Team Wins 2nd In International Competition

COOK COUNTY, IL — Seven people in custody at the Cook County Jail represented the United States in an international chess tournament against inmates from Armenia, Spain and Russia Tuesday morning.

The competition was played round robin style online with six matches total. After hours of competing, beginning at 8:30 a.m., the team from Russia won with three matches, while the U.S. took two.

"Chess is more than an entertaining past time, the game teaches its players valuable life lessons," said Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. "It requires these men to practice critical thinking and consider the risks and rewards of their decisions, which are valuable skills they can take with them when they return to their communities."

The Cook County Jail's chess program requires detainees meet once a week for at least an hour to practice. There are 14 men on the team, but the top seven were chosen for the big tournament. Four of the seven competitors Tuesday had previously competed in the 2019 international chess tournament.

Since their start in 2012, the jail has hosted numerous chess dignitaries to speak to the team, including 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov, who attended Tuesday's competition.

"These participants may not all speak the same language, but they were able to connect, compete, and enjoy their time together," said Dart. "After the difficult year we have all had, that is incredibly important."