The Trenton Times published the following article on November 23, 2013. To read the full article, click here.

Princeton University students take on inmates in ‘Ivies vs. Inmates’ chess competition

By Jon Offredo/The Times of Trenton
on November 23, 2013 at 6:30 AM, updated November 24, 2013 at 4:09 PM

TRENTON – Santise Robinson leaned back in his chair, arms crossed and chewing on a plastic spoon. Crowded around him were five other inmates at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton dressed in khaki uniforms, as corrections officers and prison officials watched and waited.

Robinson, originally from Harlem, was one the last men still alive in the “Ivies vs. Inmates” chess challenge yesterday. Eleven other inmates had already been bested by Sally Yu, 19, a Princeton University sophomore from Melbourne, Australia. Yu pulled her hair back behind her ears, then slid her rook down a few squares.

“Good one, good one,” Robinson said softly.

A few moves later, Yu had him. Checkmate.

“I messed up three moves prior to the end of the game,” said Robinson. “I give her credit, her game is good.”

The five Princeton University students participating in the “Ivies vs. Inmates” competition went undefeated yesterday with two draws. The students played multiple games simultaneously against roughly 60 inmates during the hour-long challenge.