THE ATENEO Chess Teams began week two of their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 campaigns with unconvincing results earlier this afternoon at the Adamson University Gym in the City of Manila.

The Men’s Team obtained a 2-2 draw against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, while the Women’s Team succumbed to the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Woodpushers, 1.5-2.5.

Leading the Men’s Team’s charge in the Battle of Katipunan were Paul Llanillo, Romeo Canino, Team Captain Khalil Kis-ing, and Knarf Batislaong.

Kis-ing and new recruit Batislaong secured stalemates against the Fighting Maroons’ Roderenz Adra and Io Calica, respectively. Their draws contributed a total of one point to the team’s score.

On the other hand, UAAP Season 86 Gold Medalist Llanillo continues to struggle in finding his rhythm as he faltered to UP’s Stephen Pangilinan. The sole win for the Men’s Team came from Canino who outplayed Cyrus Francisco of the Fighting Maroons to earn Ateneo’s second point of the day and cap the Battle of Katipunan at a deadlock, 2-2.

Meanwhile, taking on the DLSU Lady Woodpushers were Elayza Villa, Lexie Hernandez, Jiessel Marino, and Glesit Tatoy. Seasoned veterans Marino and Tatoy stumbled against La Salle’s worthy contenders Rinoa Sadey and Lovely Geraldino, respectively.

Following this, Villa forced her third draw of her UAAP Season 87 campaign as she concluded with a stalemate against Lady Woodpusher Francois Magpily. Rookie Lexie Hernandez then carried on her command of the board as she defeated DLSU’s Sara Olendo to claim her fourth win of the season, earning one point for the team, 1.5-2.5.

Looking to improve their current standings, the Men’s Team will face off against the DLSU Green Woodpushers while the Women’s Team will take on the UST Female Woodpushers tomorrow, 1:00 PM, at the same venue.

Men’s Standings (Match Points [Game Points]): 

1. UP Fighting Maroons (5.0 [8.0])
2. DLSU Green Woodpushers (5.0 [6.5])
3. FEU Tamaraws (4.5 [7.0])
4. UST Male Woodpushers (4.5 [7.5])
5. ATENEO Blue Eagles (3.0 [4.5])
6. AdU Soaring Falcons (2.0 [2.5])

Women’s Standings (Match Points [Game Points]):

1. FEU Lady Tamaraws (6.5 [10.5])
2. DLSU Lady Woodpushers (6.5 [8.5])
3. NU Lady Bulldogs (6.0 [9.0]) 
4. ATENEO Blue Eagles (5.5 [9.0])
5. AdU Lady Falcons (2.0 [4.0]) 
6. UST Female Woodpushers (2.0 [2.5])
7. UP Fighting Maroons (1.5 [4.5])