Inmates at Macquarie Correctional Centre swapped chess boards for computer screens in the first Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners.
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The tournament saw 42 teams from 31 countries such as Australia, Russia, the US, Norway and Indonesia battle it out online over two days.
However the Macquarie team were out-manoeuvred by Mongolia, who knocked them out in the opening group round before going on to win the championship defeating team Zimbabwe.
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Five Corrective Services NSW officers helped facilitate the match, encouraging inmates to work as a team and devise a strategy.
"It was a mentally challenging event where we could proudly represent Australia," one inmate said.
Macquarie Correctional offers inmates the opportunity to participate in education, work and other pro-social activities to help reduce their risk of reoffending post-release.
The centre opened in December 2017 and represents a new approach to the design of maximum security prisons in Australia.
The 400-bed maximum security prison is famous for its no-cell approach and uses innovative and unique techniques to build respect between staff and inmates, and ultimately reduce re-offending.
Everything in the prison - from the dormitory-style accommodation to the inmates' day - is designed to maximise inmate participation.
The correctional facility helps inmates to gain qualifications and experience in a variety of areas from business, hospitality, plumbing, building and horticulture. The prison also offers traineeships that run through to the apprenticeship level.