THE ATENEO Men’s and Women’s Chess Teams finish their respective University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Chess campaigns in fourth and fifth place, respectively. The Men’s Team closed out the season with a 2-2 draw against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, while the Women’s Team nabbed a 3.5-0.5 victory over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. Both games were held earlier today, October 19,  at the Adamson University Gym in the City of Manila.

Donning the Blue and White over the board for the Men’s side are Eowyn Jullado, Cedric Abris, Ritchie James Abeleda, and Team Captain Khalil Kis-ing. Meanwhile, Jiessel Marino, Team Captain Elayza Villa, Alphecca Gonzales, and Francine Elaine Magpily represented Ateneo for the Women’s division.

Men’s vs AdU

The first match started off evenly, with Jullado eking out a draw with the black pieces against John Rocel Simon. Both schools then split the next two matches, as Abris on the white pieces lost to Joshua Roque, while Abeleda won on black against Robert Christian Palisoc. Finally, Kis-ing managed to draw with white against Vince Albert Arellano after a grueling game to secure the 2-2 draw for the Katipunan-based squad.

Women’s vs UP

This edition of the Battle of Katipunan over the boards proved to be in favor of Ateneo, dominating their Diliman-based adversaries en route to a 3.5-0.5 victory.

Handling the white pieces, Marino and Gonzales convincingly defeated their respective opponents in Rizzalyn Santos and Maryss Caldoza, giving the Blue Eagles an early advantage. Magpily then secured the victory on black after defeating Clair Kathrine, and Villa wrapped things up with a draw with the black pieces against Janice Monsales.

Awarding Ceremonies

With the final round of games marking the end of the season, three Ateneans were rewarded for their overall performance over the boards. Team Captain Kis-ing and rookie Abeleda got bronze and silver medals, respectively, in the Men’s Chess Tournament. Meanwhile, in the Women’s division, Gonzales rounded out the Atenean medal haul with a bronze distinction of her own.

Skipper Kis-ing spoke about the feeling of representing Ateneo as a team captain as well as winning the medal. “It’s always an honor and a privilege to represent Ateneo, especially in sports. I’m just glad I got to do my job as a team captain and deliver for my school,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abeleda thanked the team’s coaches and support staff for the support they have given him throughout his first season in the collegiate ranks. “They are really supportive of the players. I am so grateful for the support that they give us in every game,” the rookie said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Gonzales then spoke about her feelings of adding another medal to her personal collection. “Super grateful po kasi although medyo rocky yung start ko this season, kinaya ko bumawi. Super grateful [din] ako kasi talagang hinelp ako ng teammates ko, coaches ko, so yung achievement na ‘to hindi lang siya sa’kin pero sa’ming lahat,” she stated.

(I am super grateful because even if the start of the season was a bit rocky for me, I was able to come back strong. I am also super grateful because my teammates and coaches helped me, so this achievement is not just mine but the entire team’s.)

As another chess season draws to a close, both teams can look to the future with these results laying important foundations as they progress up the ranks in later tournaments.