The sixth Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners drew an unprecedented 140 teams representing 56 countries across three days of international online competition. Organized by FIDE and the Cook County Sheriff's Office in Chicago, the event featured men's, women's and youth sections competing across multiple groups and time zones. The championship expanded the reach of the Chess for Freedom initiative, which has grown across six continents since its launch in 2021.

FIDE's Chess for Freedom program demonstrates how the game serves as an educational tool within correctional systems worldwide. Participants develop discipline, critical thinking, emotional control and social reintegration skills through structured learning and international competition. The initiative provides incarcerated players with opportunities for competitive engagement and personal growth that extend beyond typical prison activities.

Argentina has maintained one of the longest-running chess programs in correctional facilities, operating for more than a decade across five institutions in Corrientes province. Inmates access computers and the internet in libraries during scheduled times to participate in training and competition. Some players demonstrating strong performance and good behaviour receive authorization to compete in tournaments outside prison walls with appropriate security arrangements.

Romania participated in the international championship for the fifth consecutive time, fielding teams from 14 penitentiary institutions across the country. The participation inspired the Romanian National Administration of Penitentiaries to establish its own national online chess competition, which reached its second edition in 2026. This domestic event encourages prisoners from different institutions to develop abilities and prepare for future international participation.

Ghana and other nations continue expanding chess programs in their correctional facilities. In Ghana, Mentors Chess Academy partnered with the Ghana Prisons Service to extend the Chess for Freedom initiative to additional facilities, demonstrating growing commitment to using chess for rehabilitation and personal development. Similar programs operate in Australia, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, each tailored to local correctional systems.