Steven Bellens 11.04.2025
Last Tuesday (08-04-2025), the collection of the prison Root library was enriched with about forty chess books, suitable for all levels and aspects of the game, donated by Chess Club Oude God Mortsel.
Mark Vermeulen has been teaching chess at Wortel prison for some time. He established with clubmate Frank de Lombaert that there is a lot of interest for chess in the prison but no real “chess library. That has now changed.
Alderman of Culture Arnold Wittenberg of the City of Hoogstraten and the librarian gladly accepted the books from President Jan T’Sas. Now it’s up to the chess players inside the walls to dive into the books to improve their game!
Research in the United States(https://www.fide.com/ten-years-of-chicago-chess-in-jail/) has already shown that chess has many positive effects, including for people in detention.
After the donation of the books, Jan played a simultaneous game. Beforehand, it was guessing at the level of the ten opponents, but he soon found out that all the players knew the basics of the opening. ”There were some very interesting positions on the boards.” A few of the chess players were also playing at club level, according to Jan.
Thirteen games were won by Jan, one lost. The chess player who managed to beat Jan received well-deserved applause. Another participant joked:
”Now we’re going to be allowed to hear all week that he won.”
Together with our official from The Red Anthracite, Mark will look at how the new collection of books can be integrated into future workshops.
The Gazet van Antwerpen also came to visit our chess event: https://www.gva.be/regio/antwerpen/kempen/hoogstraten/schaakkring-schenkt-schaakboeken-aan-gevangenisbibliotheek-van-wortel-vroeger-was-ik-impulsief-nu-neem-ik-de-tijd-om-na-te-denken/53730106.html
Are you or your association interested in doing something for the sport of chess within detention? Then we would love to hear from The Red Anthracite!