THE ATENEO Chess Teams find themselves with even results to cap off the second week of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Chess Tournament. The matches were held earlier today, October 5, at the Adamson University Gym in the City of Manila.

The Men’s Team encountered a tough loss against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Male Woodpushers, 1-3. Despite this, they bounced back and claimed victory in their third match against the Adamson (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 2.5-1.5. 

Representing Ateneo in the men’s division were Eowyn Jullado, Cedric Abris, Ritchie Abeleda, Knarf Batislaong, and Khalil Kis-Ing.

Team Captain Kis-Ing was the lone victor from Loyola Heights against UST in Board 4. In the face-off against AdU, Abris and Abeleda secured one victory each on Boards 1 and 3, respectively, while the match against Kis-Ing and AdU’s Dustin Herrero ended in a stalemate on Board 4. 

On the other hand, the Women’s team also faced defeat in their first match of the day, 0.5-3.5, against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws. Similar to the men’s team, they secured their second win of the season after defeating the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 2.5-1.5.

The lineup for the women’s team was Jiessel Marino, Elayza Villa, Alphecca Gonzalez, and Kristine Flores.

In the women’s division, Marino forced a deadlock against FEU’s Mhage Sebastian in Board 1. Following this, Flores and Villa were able to outplay UP’s Janice Monsales and Claire Kathrine in Boards 2 and 4, respectively. Marino then ended the game in another standstill against Raizaq Locmayoan in Board 1.

While the two teams may have garnered one loss and one win apiece, the Ateneo Men’s Team hopes to carry on the momentum from their last game onto their next match against the UP Fighting Maroons on Saturday, October 11, at the same venue. 

Meanwhile, the Women’s team will look to improve their standing as they go against DLSU and UST on October 12 at the same venue.