During their five years of captivity, the Colombian hostages carved an ornate chess set and played Chess in order to keep sane.

They did such a good carving job, that their captors requested a set, as well.

Marc spent three months carving the pieces. “We would sit chained and, thanks to this guy, we were sitting on a piece of plastic, just playing chess,” narrates Keith Stansell. “When you are doing that you are free. Your mind is engaged, you are not a prisoner. That’s the gain, that’s the victory. And they don’t even know it.

(source, image from CNN)