AFTER THREE rounds without a win, the Ateneo Men’s Chess team picked up their first victory of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 Men’s Chess Tournament, 2.5-1.5, against number two seed University of Santo Tomas (UST) on September 22 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The result means that the Blue Eagles conclude the fourth round of competition with a record of 1-2-1, propelling them from 7th place to 5th place with a total of 7.5 points.
Ateneo’s lineup featured Vince Edralin at first board, replacing Kurt Ong from the previous round. Tristan Cervero, Team Captain Gavin Ong, and Alexander Santos seated boards two, three, and four respectively.
Edralin and Cervero set the tone with two victories on the bounce, gifting the Blue and White a 2-point cushion. Ong’s stalemate at third board ensured the overall win for the Blue Eagles, even after Santos’ defeat at fourth board.
Outclassing UST was vital because it lifted Ateneo from the cellar and demonstrated their ability to beat the heavyweights.
Ong had nothing but praise for his team after the game. “I’m so proud of what my teammates were able to pull off today. I was able to witness what it means to be an Atenean chess player and athlete. Words cannot describe how happy I am. We shook the entire league by winning against the 2nd seed.”
Keeping a level head, however, is crucial if any real progress is to be made. “We’re only in Round 4, so UAAP is far from finished. We have to take it one game at a time, and hopefully keep up or perform better in the coming rounds. The hardest is yet to come,” said Ong.
Ateneo will be looking to build on this win when they face off against the University of the Philippines (UP) at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 28 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
