THE ATENEO Women’s Chess Team captured a postseason seat in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Blitz Chess tournament. This comes even after the Blue Eagles’ 1.5-2.5 loss against rivals De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Woodpushers in their final match of the inaugural competition’s elimination earlier today at the Adamson University Gym in the City of Manila.

This loss officially cements a 3-1-2 win-draw-loss record for the Blue Eagles as they head into the Final Four as the third seed.

UAAP Season 87 standard Rookie of the Year (ROTY) Lexie Hernandez, Elayza Villa, Team Captain Kristine Flores, and Jiessel Marino led the way for Ateneo in today’s matchup.

Hernandez looked to set the tone for the rest of her squad as she clashed with Francois Magpily of the Lady Woodpushers. The reigning ROTY successfully secured a stalemate in her first game against Magpily. However, the rookie struggled to find her footing in the next three games, leading to a 0.5-3.5 defeat in her series.

Villa then battled against Rinoa Sadey of the Taft-based unit. The two immediately went toe-to-toe in their matchup, resulting in a deadlock in the first two games. In the latter half of the four-game affair, Villa and Sadey exchanged victories, which ended their match in a stalemate, 2-2, securing Ateneo’s first points of the day.

Seeking the Blue and White’s first victory of the day, Blue Eagle skipper Flores faced off against DLSU’s Checy Telesforo. Flores struggled to find her rhythm to begin the match, dropping the first game. Quickly turning the tides, Flores successfully secured a stalemate in the second game and captured a win in the third game, which tied things up at 1.5-apiece. However, Telesforo bested the Ateneo chess veteran in the all-important final game, leading to a 1.5-2.5 series defeat and sealing an overall loss for the Blue Eagles.

Still eager to end the day with a victory despite Ateneo’s sealed fate, Marino went head-to-head with Sara Olendo of the Green and White. Marino and Olendo traded blows in the first two games, but Marino never looked back and captured the victory through her solid showing in the final half of games, 3-1.

The Blue and White will aim to avenge their defeat against the Lady Woodpushers in a fitting Final Four matchup this Saturday, 10:00 AM, in the same venue.