How a Hostage Made a Chess Set in the Jungle Using a Machete

Published on August 29, 2025
Duration: 0:33

A compelling survival story details how a hostage, Mark, used a machete to carve a chess set in the jungle. The guerrillas provided materials for a folding board, and the set became a communal activity, even smoothing out from years of use. This highlights incredible resourcefulness and resilience in extreme circumstances.

Quick Summary

A hostage named Mark used a machete to carve a complete chess set in the jungle. Guerrillas provided cardboard and tape for a folding board. The set became a communal activity, smoothing out over years of use from handling by both the hostage and captors.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Carving Chess Pieces with a Machete
  2. 00:07Constructing the Folding Chessboard
  3. 00:18Communal Chess Use in Camp
  4. 00:25Durability and Patina of the Set

Frequently Asked Questions

How did a hostage create a chess set in the jungle?

A hostage named Mark obtained a machete from his captors and used it to carve a complete set of chess pieces. He later used cardboard and tape, provided by the guerrillas, to construct a folding chessboard.

What materials were used to make the chess set?

The chess pieces were carved from wood using a machete. The chessboard was constructed from cardboard and tape, materials provided by the guerrilla captors.

Did the captors use the chess set?

Yes, the chess set became a shared activity. Even the guerrillas would borrow the set to play when the group was stationary in a fixed camp.

How did the chess pieces change over time?

The wooden chess pieces became smoothed out over years of use. This was due to the natural oils from the hands of the many people, including the hostage and guerrillas, who played with them.

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