First Moves / Chess news from around the U.S.
Cook County inmates in front of secure laptops playing their counterparts in Russia.
Cell Mates
An innovative chess program in the Cook County Jail By NORA SHEAHAN
COOK COUNTY, IL – Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced the winners of the chess tournament that took place May 15 between 10 Cook County jail detainees and 10 Russian inmates through a secure Internet line at Cook County Jail’s Division 11. There were two rounds played by each player on each team. The first round results included 3½ matches won by Cook County detainees and 6½ matches won by the Russian inmates. After the second round was complete the Russian inmates won 8 matches and Cook County detainees won 2, for a final score of 14½ to 5½ in favor of Russia. The event began with an international
press conference at 9 a.m. with Sheriff Dart and Dr. Mikhail Korenman, who heads the Cook County Jail’s chess program, describ- ing the program and the historic tour na ment. Russian officials participated in the press conference through Skype. “Today’s successful competition is a
tribute to Dr. Korenman for his vision, our correctional officers for their steadfast support of the program and of course to the competitors on both sides for their sportsmanship today and their commit- ment to utilizing the lessons of chess as a
8 July 2013 | Chess Life
valuable rehabilitation tool,” said Sheriff Dart. “We will continue with our chess program to accommodate the hundreds of detainees interested in learning the game and improving their skills. We congratu- late the Russian team on their victory and look forward to a rematch.” Sheriff Dart launched the jail’s chess
program in April 2012, using standard chess boards and pieces with the goal of instilling in detainees the importance of patience, diligence and critical thought— skills that are the foundation of the game of chess and of life. In December 2012, the program was
expanded to permit detainees to participate in online chess tournaments using secure laptops that allowed them to play against anonymous players from around the world, including players in Singapore, Croatia and Canada. Dr. Korenman meets with participating detainees two hours a day, three days a week to give group lessons and to coordi- nate matches. To date, approximately 600 Cook County Jail detainees have partici- pated in the jail’s chess program. This event between Cook County and Russia was the idea of Sheriff Dart, Dr.
Korenman and former World Champion Anatoly Karpov. After the match, Karpov himself identi-
fied one of the Cook County detainees as the most distinguished competitor of both sides, having won both of his games— including one in just three moves. While some of the participants in the
Cook County Jail chess program had previous experience with chess, most of them began recently as novices—includ- ing several of today’s competitors. All participants made it to the Russia com- petition by winning internal Cook County Jail tournaments. Dr. Korenman, a FIDE-certified interna-
tional chess organizer, is a principal of the Russian School of Mathematics in Naperville. His extensive background in chess includes founding the Karpov School of Chess in Lindsborg, Kanas, which was the first chess school in the United States. Dr. Korenman also initiated the Chess for
Peace Program which is designed to pro- mote peace throughout the world by bringing secondary students from different countries together to learn how to play chess and establish lasting friendships.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF COOK COUNTY JAIL
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