The Gift of Chess Takes Chess Tournament to El Dorado Correctional Facility!

April 5th 2023 marks another chapter in The Gift of Chess’ journey in partnership with Kansas Department of Corrections toward rehabilitation through the use of chess. 

Arriving at the El dorado correctional facility with 125 chess boards and chess clocks ready to engage the residents in a four round Swiss style chess tournament was beyond exciting!

I ventured back into my old stomping grounds where I was once an inmate and served time alongside these residents. They were delighted to see me and I was delighted to bring them this Gift of Chess. 

The location was situated in the Dining hall. As residents passed to and from their destinations they were able to witness the live event going on through the big wired glass windows. Many of the men stopped and shouted encouraging words through the windows of how proud they were of me and the fact that I was able to come in there and spend time sharing with them this passion of rehabilitation through this fun, practical game of chess.

 Before starting the event the administration headed by Warden Tommy Willliams, Deputy Wardens Marsha Bos and Jesse Howes were hospitable,supportive, encouraging and helpful with organizing the event. 

Then I spoke to the men how i was able to develop these essential life skills of problem solving, decision making and planning from the game of chess and make them applicable to my life. They were all very receptive. The best part was seeing the smiles on their faces and the joy that this game was brought to them to enjoy. (That they were even thought about.) I made certain to let them know that the Gift of Chess, in partnership with KDOC, was committed and invested in creating this progressive idea of programming throughout the state. Spearheaded by Secretary of Corrections Jeff Zmuda, with the help of newly appointed statewide coordinator Kevin Oneth.

The four round tournament provided us with 4 representatives for the intrastate tournament that is anticipated to be held on-line via chess.com this summer. Those four are:

1st place; Brennan Trass of Hutchinson, Kansas who commented that chess helped him to organize his thoughts and to strategically apply those thoughts and goals in real time on the board. He said that chess pieces such as knights, bishops, rooks, etc  is akin to people in your life that are supportive of you. And that it is necessary to construct that support team of people in your life to help you overcome challenges and have success. 

In 2nd place we had Robert Verge-Bey who is hard at work developing programming within the prison to help men learn how to think and think effectively through his program called INNERPRIZE. He said that this chess game and the cognitive rehabilitation aspect would go hand in hand with his hope to implement similar programming for those incarcerated like himself. He went on further to mention that  after 27 plus years of incarceration chess has been beneficial for him because it helps to teach focus, concentration, and how to deal with life. Chess relates to life and the choices we make. Such as planning, and calculation of losses, and yet still developing the determination to win. He said that chess helps to consume time and forces you to learn from your mistakes, while helping you to develop strategies to overcome those mistakes.

3rd place went to Anthony Jefferson who made mention of how chess inspires him to persevere and to develop patience. He also has served a great deal of time and would be considered one of the top players in the state. 4th place went to Alexon Johnson. 

Finally, I interviewed Cristobal Barraza who has been incarcerated for over 25 years and said that when he first came to prison he was in segregation for 23 hours a day for 8 years. And that it was chess  that helped him to get through and maintain his mental strength, He found that chess was therapy for him currently and especially during that time. He said that learning to be a man was one of the hardest things to do in this environment. And that it was discipline that determined for him whether he would become that man he destined to be. Therefore he found chess as an effective tool to help him develop discipline. 

In closing we want to thank the staff at EDCF; Warden Tommy Williams and Deputy Warden Marsha Bos who have shared their openness to have a chess club developed at their facility. They believe that it would provide a positive outlet for the residents to occupy their time and develop thinking and problem solving skills that could be helpful in positive influence for the rest of the population.  

This was a great chance and opportunity to give back to a population of men that I knew personally and that I firmly believe will take these skills developed and honed and pour into another resident. A snowball effect that could be the beginning of change for their facility and eventually the entire state. 

Tony Ballard

Gift of Chess