How Novus Is Using Chess as an Educational Tool in Prisons

In October 2021, learners at HMP Wandsworth were proud and delighted after finishing seventh out of 43 teams in their inter-prison online chess tournament.

The chess club is run by the charity Chess in Schools and Communities, with Novus supporting learners' participation as part of its wider creative arts and enrichment provision.

The tournament saw teams of learners from prisons in 31 countries come together to compete in an online chess tournament. HMP Wandsworth first competed in 2019, and although the results were not as favourable then, the benefits of the tournament were evident.

Join us as we discuss the benefits of chess in the prison system and how it serves as a catalyst for rehabilitation, personal development, enrichment and successful reintegration into society.

The benefits of chess in the prison system

Beyond mere competition, chess offers invaluable opportunities for personal growth and skill development. Participants at HMP Wandsworth embraced the challenge, honing skills vital for employment and rehabilitation.

From goal-setting and strategic planning to teamwork and performing under pressure, the tournament provided a platform for learners to thrive. The tournament:

• Enhances crucial digital skills, equipping participants for the modern world beyond bars
• Enhances cognitive abilities such as critical thinking and problem-solving
• Fosters strategic planning and decision-making skills
• Promotes patience and perseverance
• Encourages social interaction and teamwork
• Provides a constructive outlet for self-expression
• Helps manage stress and anxiety
• Equips individuals with valuable life skills applicable to employment and daily life
• Offers a sense of achievement and self-worth
• Facilitates digital literacy and adaptability to modern technology.

Cultivating teamwork through chess

Both participants and educators had been looking forward to this tournament appearance and the opportunity to improve upon their previous efforts. For many, it was a novel and uplifting experience, fostering a sense of respect and camaraderie.

The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with expressions of gratitude for the unique learning opportunity and the supportive atmosphere created. One learner expressed:

I have never done anything like this in prison. It has set my mood for a long time now. I feel like I am getting respect because of the tournament.

“I found the tournament brilliant, amazing! It was the best thing I've done in my time in prison. I've not been feeling myself in prison, but the friendly atmosphere and support were amazing,” said learner A. “If I have the opportunity to do it again, I will grab it with both hands!”

Learner D commented: “Having a time limit was a big game changer, but I think not being able to see the opponent helps me to focus more. I feel incredibly proud and rewarded by the results.”

Friendly matches and practice sessions at HMPs

As practice for the unique challenges of the tournament, the learners competed in friendly training matches against teams from HMP Hollesley Bay, as well as taking part in regular practice sessions at HMP Wandsworth.

After the learners outperformed their previous tournament effort, Peter Sullivan from Chess in Schools and Communities said he believed this enormous success resulted from the teamwork that went into the project:

The reason we did so much better is that the players had the opportunity to practise, and that was only possible because everybody worked together. It has been a revelation to see what is possible when officers, the education team, volunteers, governors and the men all get behind a project.

Chess for Freedom: a growing global movement

The tournament in which HMP Wandsworth's learners took part that year sits within a much bigger international movement. Since 2021, FIDE, the International Chess Federation, has partnered with the Cook County Sheriff's Office in Chicago on Chess for Freedom, a programme using chess to build life skills for prisoners around the world.

Its flagship event, the Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, has grown rapidly. FIDE's records put the first edition, held in 2021, at around 42 teams. By its fifth edition, held in October 2025, the tournament had set a new record with 135 teams from 57 countries. Teams competed across Open, Women's and Youth sections, with India, El Salvador and Iran taking the respective titles.

A sixth edition is scheduled for 15 to 17 October 2026, demonstrating how far this area of prison education has developed since HMP Wandsworth's learners first took part.

How digital engagement can support rehabilitation

Engaging individuals in online cultural enrichment and creative arts provision, such as chess, can have a profound and transformative impact on their learning, development and rehabilitation journeys.

These activities offer learners a constructive outlet for self-expression and skills development by fostering cognitive abilities such as strategic thinking, problem-solving and patience.

Through platforms such as online chess tournaments, learners work towards goals, collaborate with others and manage stress under pressure. These are all vital skills for life in society. This aligns with wider evidence on purposeful activity in prison: HM Inspectorate of Prisons has found that prisoners who spend more time engaged in activity outside their cells are more optimistic that their time in custody has made them less likely to offend in the future. This finding underlines why activities such as chess matter well beyond the game itself.

Beyond the confines of a secure facility, online cultural enrichment programmes provide a window to the outside world, promoting a sense of connection and community while helping learners to build digital skills that they can take with them on release.

By embracing these opportunities, learners can rediscover their potential, build confidence and pave the way for successful reintegration into society after release.

Excitement for future online tournaments

Following the success of the tournament, HMP Wandsworth's learners continued to develop their chess skills through friendly matches against other English prison teams and regular training sessions in the chess club.

Find out more about our prison education programmes and how our work is helping to transform the lives of prisoners.