UK prisoners allowed to play chess in global online tournament

Campaigners hail MoJ decision to allow inmates to compete for first time using prison computers

The benefits of chess have long been extolled for retaining mental agility and as an escape from boredom, making it the perfect pastime for prisoners confined to four walls.

So the decision to grant inmates at two prisons in England permission to play competitive chess in an international tournament for the first time, allowing them direct access to the internet to make their moves from prison computers, has been lauded by campaigners.