May 23, 2023

Kansas inmate's path to freedom leads through Gift of Chess

Posted May 23, 2023 3:30 PM
Tony Ballard, right, who started a Kansas prison Gift of Chess outreach program, gives advice to a fellow inmate at the Topeka Correctional Facility. Courtesy photo
Tony Ballard, right, who started a Kansas prison Gift of Chess outreach program, gives advice to a fellow inmate at the Topeka Correctional Facility. Courtesy photo

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Tony Ballard, a Kansas inmate, has turned a 25-year sentence into a passion to teach other inmates critical-thinking skills through the Gift of Chess.

Tony Ballard, who is an inmate with Wichita work release, has been traveling to other correctional facilities within the state, including recently Stockton and Norton correctional facilities, to facilitate chess tournaments.

Several years ago, when he was in segregation in the prison system, Ballard picked up the game of chess.

"The more I got better at the game, the more I felt the skills that I was using could be applied to my life," he said.

"Those skills are critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, decision-making skills and pattern-recognition skills. [These are] all skills in society that employers call soft skills, but skills that most of those who are incarcerated didn't have."

Tony Ballard, right, gives a fellow inmate a chess strategy lesson during a recent visit to the Topeka Correctional Facility. Courtesy photo
Tony Ballard, right, gives a fellow inmate a chess strategy lesson during a recent visit to the Topeka Correctional Facility. Courtesy photo

Ballard called himself a guinea pig in his own experiment as he tried to apply the skills he was learning through chess in his life.

"Lo and behold, I had success there as well as I started to take my time and respond and then react and be more responsive rather than impulsive, be decisive, strategic and goal set," he said.

He and other inmates had already played in an intercontinental chess tournament online when he approached Capt. Kevin Oneth of the Kansas Department of Corrections and then Jeff Zmuda, Kanas Secretary Of the Department of Corrections.

Ballard gave Zmuda an elevator pitch, and he was open and accepting to the idea of starting a chess outreach program within the Kansas correctional system.

Oneth, in addition to being the administrative captain at the Wichita Work Release, became the statewide coordinator for the Gift of Chess.

A Topeka Correctional Facility inmate looks over a chess board at a recent Gift of Chess program. The program seeks to help inmates build critical-thinking skills. Courtesy photo
A Topeka Correctional Facility inmate looks over a chess board at a recent Gift of Chess program. The program seeks to help inmates build critical-thinking skills. Courtesy photo

The program began with a tournament at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility in December, which was quickly followed by more events across the state.

"The response by the residents at each of the facilities has been phenomenal. They love it. They never expected something like that to happen," Oneth said.

Although he said the inmates come to the tournaments unsure of what to expect, they leave with smiles and high fives, Oneth said.

"The attitudes are just so positive and appreciative," he said.

As Ballard had said about himself, Oneth said he has seen growth in critical-thinking skills among those inmates who have participated in the program.

The Kansas Gift of Chess prison outreach program has had tournaments in all the state facilities. An online statewide correctional tournament is set for this summer. Courtesy photo
The Kansas Gift of Chess prison outreach program has had tournaments in all the state facilities. An online statewide correctional tournament is set for this summer. Courtesy photo

"They are able to think about doing things rather than just reacting," he said.

This matches with corrections' Resident Conduct Action Plans, which help inmates think through the consequences of their behaviors in lieu of receiving stiffer disciplinary actions.

"A lot of men who are in prison have come here because of impulsive behavior, driven and fueled by drugs and alcohol," Ballard said. "Chess moves us away from that impulsive thinking to more rational decision-making. 

"The goal is to make academic atmospheres within our facilities where thinking, decision-making, smarts, intelligence is celebrated over the brute and the brawn."

Ballard wasn't always the guy who was making good decisions, by his own admission.

Ballard, 45, is in prison on a conviction for attempted first-degree murder. He's been in prison since he was 25.

Tony Ballard, Kansas prison Gift of Chess outreach program coordinator, said chess can help inmates prepare for life after prison by giving inmates an outlet to deal with anxiety and depression. Courtesy photo
Tony Ballard, Kansas prison Gift of Chess outreach program coordinator, said chess can help inmates prepare for life after prison by giving inmates an outlet to deal with anxiety and depression. Courtesy photo

Ballard, who is originally from Hutchinson, was selling and doing drugs. Someone tried to rob him, and he retaliated by firing a gun at the other party. He missed but was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

"People would always say, 'Man, what were you thinking?'" he said. "Every mistake, every crime, every bad choice I made in life, they were 'What were you thinking?'

"The problem was I wasn't thinking. When I started playing chess, it made me want to start using those thinking skills."

He said chess gave him the confidence and self-esteem to make good choices. He had to earn his way to work release, which he said is a path to his eventual freedom.

"Over the years, I have developed virtues and discipline that I don't think I could have got anywhere else," he said. "I didn't have a structured or disciplined environment around me. All of the KDOC staff have poured into me because they see the potential."

Ballard was first incarcerated when he was 18 on a robbery charge. He said there weren't as many rehabilitative programs in prisons in Kansas as there are today.

Tony Ballard, center, of the Gift of Chess works with two female inmates at the Topeka Correctional Facility at a recent chess tournament there. Courtesy photo
Tony Ballard, center, of the Gift of Chess works with two female inmates at the Topeka Correctional Facility at a recent chess tournament there. Courtesy photo

He said many men who have been in prison struggle with anxiety and depression after release. However, he said chess can help with those symptoms.

Ballard said the Gift of Chess and work release are preparing him to be a productive citizen when he's released from prison.

"I will come back to prison, but I won't come back in shackles or as an inmate," he said.

Ballard said he hopes to work with inmates as a substance abuse counselor or a mentor. Ballard's projected release date is April 12, 2025.

Now the program has toured all of the Kansas correctional facilities, Oneth, who recently presented to an international conference on the Gift of Chess, said the next step is to host an online state tournament in June or July.

Ballard said he would like to see chess programs in prisons across the country.

"I am thankful for the opportunity to give back and help men transform into rehabilitating and conducting themselves as helpful citizens upon their releases," he said. 

You can see more on the Gift of Chess in Kansas prisons online. You also can donate online. If you want more information on the program or seek to volunteer with the program, you can email prisonoutreach@thegiftof chess.org.