The Gift of Chess hosts The 1st Annual Kansas Department of Corrections Chess Championship.

Organization and participation in the 1 st annual Kansas Department of Corrections Chess Championships was awesome! Having the support of the Secretary of Corrections Jeff Zmuda made this event happen. The fact that he spent his free time to attend this event showed how much he cared!

This was a long awaited event that the entire Gift of Chess team coordinated, organized and believed would come to fruition. As Tyrone Davis, Russel Makofsky, and Mikhail Korenman boarded flights and made their way to Kansas I was traveling alongside a correctional officer who had been charged with transporting me to and from the event. This event was unprecedented: the first of its kind!

Many thoughts went through my head as I traveled down the highway headed to this special life changing event. One of the first thoughts that I had was ‘this is the first time that I have been back in this town, Hutchinson, without having to be shackled and handcuffed. While I was not completely free, I felt “free” because of the magnitude of the event; I was bringing the Gift of Chess to those incarcerated as a tool they can learn from and use to transform/rehabilitate their lives just as I had and continue to do. I also had thoughts of how I would be received by the correctional staff and residents that I had spent over a decade within this particular prison. I wanted to be sure not to leave no stone unturned, or leave anything out of all that I had in my mind and heart to deliver. I envisioned my freedom and future. My eventual release from prison where I could continue giving back and helping those incarcerated. Afterall, this is what I am going to college for; social work. Yet, this is more than social work this is humanitarian work.

My life’s work on the wrong side transposing into my life’s work on the right side. I sat in that van as we glided down the highway daydreaming, envisioning my self as a freeman doing this same thing. Although, on a greater scale: Nationally. Finally arriving at Hutchinson Correctional facility, I went into the receiving and admissions area of the prison and was greeted by correctional officers who had remembered me from when I had served time there. To my surprise they were elated to see me and welcomed me. They showed an interest in the event that I was bringing to the facility. Which was cool! Because in environments like this there is this us versus them mentality. I represented a partnership. A co-effort between myself, a currently incarcerated individual and KDOC. Once I got back to the men in general population it was exactly what I had expected; that warm welcome from my fellow comrades still serving time. They embraced me and showed that exuberant energy of support and love. They provided me an exhilarating platform to give them this Gift of Chess.

Before I spoke I met a friend that had helped to organize this event. Who helped to add credibility and weight to our efforts with this function, Dr. Mikhail Korenman. He had been picked up by Karen, our Gift of Chess partner who answered the call to provide transportation in the spur of the moment. This great man of stature who is an expert chess instructor, FIDE representative, and legend in the chess world. He once upon a time brought Mikhail Gorbachev to Lindsborg, Kansas for chess events at Anatoly Karpov’s school of chess. And who currently heads the chess clubs in Cook County, Illinois jails. Something Mikhail has done for the past 10 years. Speaking with Mikhail, a legend in the chess world, was an honor. A very nice, humorous, and brilliant man. I am a better man for having spent time in his presence.

Unfortunately, it was at this time that I had learned that Russel and Tyrone had been stranded at the airport in Chicago due to a flight delay. Nevertheless, the show must go on! Mikhail and I handled our business with precision. Me leaning on his expertise and professionalism with conducting tournaments and his encouragement to speak on the benefits of chess to those incarcerated complimented my hyper-aggressive desire to give my all. When I spoke the men hung on every word that came out of my mouth. I spoke on the negative effects of being impulsive. The positive attributes of becoming expert problem solvers, decision-makers, and development of pattern recognition skills. I spoke their language as one of them that rose from this same environment to a place of growth and success; a Phoenix! As I explained the correlation of the tools and skills that are produced from avid chess playing and training, I witnessed the men’s enthusiasm. I provided hope, encouragement, and a blueprint for achievement through chess. A game that thy already enjoy and play each day.

Afterwards, I was approached by an individual who I had know for the majority of my incarceration. He had formerly been a rival gang member of mines. He said: “once I had heard what you were doing, how you had changed, and how beneficial chess had been for you, I had my family order me this chess book. I had been learning ever since, in preparation to come and participate in this event...” That for me was huge!!! Also, Mr. Zmuda approached me and said he watched closely how I spoke with such conviction and confidence. He noticed how attentive the men were as I spoke to them. Basically, confirming the significance of this event. It was nice to talk with Mr. Zmuda. At first, I thought that sharing a space with someone of his stature would be awkward, instead, it was the exact opposite. He and I listened to each other as we shared the same sentiments about the importance of providing rehabilitative opportunities to those incarcerated that would be constructive and transformative. He confirmed the importance of me specifically speaking to others that are in this predicament. And how much more bandwidth I would have versus his staff or himself as the Secretary of Corrections.

Next, we went to the central unit. This is the main unit for the entire prison where the maximum custody residents are held. It was here that I got the chance to spend more time at the feet of Dr. Korenman, gleaning from his wealth of wisdom. He spoke about how far reaching The Gift of Chess has and could become. He asked about my time spent and how much more time I had to go. He showed an interest in my becoming an ambassador for prison reformation through the usage of chess. After mentioning how much time I had left on my sentence Dr. Koreman said, “ I think you have a pretty good chance of getting out earlier.” And “if there is anything I can do to support you let me know!” This to me was a seal of approval from a legend in the world of chess.

Finally, Russell and Tyrone came. It was my first time, after almost 2 years of talking with Russ and Tyrone over the phone that I had finally been able to meet my friends in person. Russell came straight up to me and looked me in the eye and said “ how are you my friend?” And then, “we did it!” I smiled and said,” we sure did buddy!” and embraced my best friend and brother. Then embraced Tyrone and said’ “nice to have finally met you, bro!” These two men have championed me from day 1. It was surreal for me at this moment. Our thoughts, plans and ideas have come to fruition to achieve this momentous event. Only a microcosm of what is to come as we embark on a national endeavor to transform lives and create valued in those cast away.

Then Russell spoke with such power and authority of our collaborative vision and mission that if anyone was ever on the edge they were completely sold. He picked up the King chess piece and said, “this chess piece is a low-cost catalyst for change.” Right after mentioning how he and Tyrone slept on the floor of the airport after a delayed flight just to get there. It meant that much to him. How encountering a problem is akin to having to explore a different variation in the game of chess, although continuing to press forward with the plan till its completion. Next, Tyrone spoke about the impact that chess has had on him. From chess master to MIT graduate and now working in a prestigious career field. Also, about how he had been affected by incarceration through family members who had served time. And how they had shred with him how they had used chess as a tool to transform their lives and make it back home to a young Tyrone who longed for reuniting with family.

There were all kinds of parallels and experiences with chess shared that provided encouragement to the residents of the facility. Dr. Korenman explained how chess was created thousands of years ago as a game of peace between two warring factions. Even presenting chess puzzles on the chess board to the residents that were both engaging and difficult to solve. Yet, fun all the same. A man of few words; Dr. Mikhail Korenman. Yet, a great man of stature! The men played in a 4 round chess tournament that crowned a winner and 2 nd and 3 rd place finishers. We had made certificates for them which read: “First annual Kansas Department of Corrections Chess Tournament.”

The uniqueness of the certificates were not only that the participants had something to hold onto that showed their achievement. But that it had lines for signatures. I was able to sign my name as an official Gift of Chess director in of this even next to the founders, Russell Makofsky and Tyrone Davis. And Dr. Korenman. Above all the highlight was that I got the chance to sign my name directly next to Secretary of Corrections Mr. Jeff Zmuda! Someone I highly respect and look forward to working with in the on-going future as we partner to give The Gift of Chess to rehabilitate and transform lives!

Thanks to all that helped to make this event a huge success! Especially Mr. Jeff Zmuda.

Tony Ballard

The Gift of Chess

Director of Prison Outreach