THE ATENEO Chess Teams capped off the opening weekend of their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 campaigns with divided results this afternoon at the Adamson University Gym in the City of Manila. Both teams garnered their first points after the Men’s Team forced a draw with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 2-2, while the Women’s Team brought the Adamson Lady Falcons to their heels, 3-1.

Keen on taming the Tamaraws were Paul Llanillo, Romeo Canino, Khalil Kis-ing, and Knarf Batislaong, who executed their gambits on boards one to four, respectively. Across the table on boards one to three were FIDE Masters (FM) Mark Bacojo, Merill Jacutina, and Jeth Morado, respectively, while Israelito Rilloraza orchestrated on board four for the Morayta-based team.

While Llanillo and Canino had their kings captured, Batislaong redeemed the Blue and White on boards three and four to go along with Team Captain Kis-ing’s triumph over his FM opponent, capping off their duel against the Tamaraws with a 2-2 draw to gain one point in the standings.

Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles unleashed Team Captain Kristine Flores, Elayza Villa, Lexie Hernandez, and Alphecca Gonzales to take boards one to four, correspondingly, with the hopes of soaring higher than the Lady Falcons.

Despite Flores and Villa ending their games with stalemates against Angela San Luis and Robelle De Jesus, Hernandez and Gonzales were able to seal their matches against Mariane Flora and Phoebie Arellano, officially handing Ateneo their first win.

The Blue Eagles’ next assignments are their next-door rivals, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. The Women’s Team will embark on the Battle of Katipunan on October 16, 2:00 PM, while the Men’s Team will brave the same duel on October 19, 1:00 PM, both at the same venue.

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

1. UP Fighting Maroons (3.0 [6.0])
2. FEU Tamaraws (3.0 [5.5])
3. DLSU Green Woodpushers (3.0 [4.5])
4. UST Male Woodpushers (2.0 [5.0])
5. ATENEO Blue Eagles (1.0 [2.5])
6. AdU Soaring Falcons (0.0 [0.5])

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

1. UST Female Woodpushers (3 [4.5])
2. ATENEO Blue Eagles (2.0 [4.5])
3. FEU Lady Tamaraws (2.0 [4.0])
4. DLSU Lady Woodpushers (2.0 [3.5])
5. NU Lady Bulldogs (2.0 [2.5])
6. AdU Lady Falcons (1.0 [3.0])
7. UP Fighting Maroons (0.0 [2.0])