05/20/2026
Ellsworth Correctional Facility Chess Team Places Eighth in International Competition!
On Thursday May 14, 2026, the Ellsworth Correctional Facility Chess Team participated in the Second Continental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, finishing in eighth place out of 21 teams from North America, Central America, and South America. The ECF team consisted of Lamont Cox, Miguel Villa, Terrill Andrews, and Romane Douglas. Resident Cox released this week, so joining this team for future competitions is Eddie Thomas.
This event builds on the momentum of the inaugural continental championships in 2025 and is part of FIDE’s ongoing Chess for Freedom initiative – a program designed to expand opportunities for intellectual engagement, personal development, and social reintegration through chess.
The first Continental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners, held in May 2025, marked a major milestone in the Chess for Freedom program, bringing together teams from correctional institutions around the world in structured online competition. That pioneering event demonstrated the power of chess to create connection and opportunity even in challenging circumstances, reinforcing the value of regular regional championships as a complement to FIDE’s established intercontinental events.
Congratulations, gentlemen! We are so proud of your success!
