Macquarie Correctional Centre participate in Intercontinental chess championship for prisoners

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.