↗️ Outreach Report: Stillwater Prison Tournament

When Ed Bourgeois joined the MSCA board, he brought his passion for accessibility. He wants to bring chess to as many people as possible. Ed is the MSCA Outreach Coordinator now and continuing his efforts for underserved populations, being part of a group that organized a remarkable event at the Stillwater Prison last week, a first-of-a-kind in Minnesota rated chess tournament.

The tournament received great coverage:

📰 MPR: In a first, Minnesota prison hosts official chess tournament

📰 St. Paul Pioneer Press: ‘Know every move you’re making’: Stillwater prison inmates learn life lessons playing chess

🎥 KARE11 News: Chess helps build life skills at MCF Stillwater

Everything went well thanks to the efforts of Ed and many others. 🙏

♟️ Lon Newman was a prime mover for this event, showing great persistence in making connections and getting everyone talking.

♟️ Tony Ballard is the prison outreach coordinator for the Gift of Chess, who provided sets and boards and arranged free US Chess memberships for all participants. Tony helped with the rationale for chess programs in prison and provided a long term vision. As an inmate, he makes a real connection to the inmates themselves.

♟️ Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and State Rep Josiah Hill facilitated a meeting Prison Commissioner Paul Schnell, who in turn approved the proposal and facilitated a meeting with Stillwater Prison Warden Bill Bolin, who authorized the tournament and staff to organize the event logistics. Phew! That's a lot of big wheels to turn.

♟️ Dane Zagar did a fantastic job directing the tournament, rolling with a challenging event. Dane also donated some analog clocks to be checked out for play. The MSCA covered TD fees.

♟️ The 36 players each received a board and set of chess pieces. Zack Matthews won the tournament with a perfect 4-0 score. The players showed great respect and appreciation for the event.