Dubai prisoners competed on the back of bars to secure fifth place in the virtual chess championship
A team of corrective and prisoners of Dubai Police has finished fifth in the first Asian prisoner chess championship to oversee a virtual tournament by the International Chess Federation (FID). The milestone exposes the transformational power of chess as a tool for rehabilitation and rehabilitation and regeneration.In the tournament, 23 teams from eight countries in Asia were brought together. Representing the UAE, the Dubai’s eight -member team was selected through an intensive internal qualifier involving 40 prisoners. The selection and training was done in collaboration with the Dubai Chess and Culture Club, which provided mentorship and strategic guidance throughout the process.“The team placed fifth in total, showcasing high level preparations and strategic capacities during the final round. The result shows the continuity and attention shown by the participants in the competition,” Dubai Police said in a statement Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Al Obadley, Director, Prisoner Education and Training Department in Dubai Police, described the initiative as more than only one competition.“It’s not just about winning the game, it is about rebuilding focus, discipline and self-confidence,”He said, emphasizing the rehabilitation role of chess in jail programs.“Chess is a tool for rehabilitation, which helps the prisoners develop a sense of significant thinking and purpose.”The initiative is part of a comprehensive corrective strategy launched under the instructions of Chief General Marwan Abdul Karim Zulfar and is actively supported by Brigadier Salah Busaba. It aims to equip prisoners with cognitive, emotional and behavior skills required for a productive rehabilitation in society.
Next step: World Champion rescue
Looking forward, the team is preparing to compete in the 5th prisoner Chess World Cup for October. The Dubai Police will enter the global stage not only as the participants but as a defending champion.Earlier this year, a team of Dubai prisoners won a historic victory by beating 115 teams from 51 countries in the prisoner chess World Cup organized by the Cook County Office in Chicago.Lieutenant Colonel Al Obadley confirmed that preparations were already going on:“The department is currently preparing to participate in the fifth prisoner chess World Cup … where Dubai Police will return as the title of the previous edition.”
