By AJ Alarcon

In a test of patience, endurance, and wit, the Ateneo Blue Eagles sat in deep concentration but fell short against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Adamson University (AdU), absorbing identical 1-3 defeats in the opening tournament of the Boys’ and Girls’ Chess divisions, both held at the AdU Gymnasium on Sunday, September 28, under the 88th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

The boys’ team, composed of Yash Ansell Cayabyab, Marc Justinn Fua, Pio Caro, and Aidan Mejia, faced UST’s Gabriel Paradero, King Pamplona, Jude Dableo, and Sumer Oncita, respectively.

UST secured three wins to clinch the match, but Fua outlasted Pamplona on Board 2 to give Ateneo its lone point in the boys’ division, closing the tally at 1–3.

Meanwhile, the girls’ division saw Ateneo’s Ansley Valerio, Mikayla Tusi, Katina Lim, and Helena Choi go up against AdU’s Florence Isabedra, Antonett Atienza, Crystal Sunga, and Ma. Louise Peñaverde, respectively.

With three boards conceded to the Falcons, Tusi pulled through with a victory over Atienza on Board 2, giving Ateneo its single win in the girls’ division and ending the match at 1-3.

Reflecting on his match, Fua said, “I just felt a little nervous, because I was in a winning position, but I was able to convert overall.”

Valerio added, “We learned a lot along the way,” noting how the team picked up lessons from other schools’ styles, game openings, and lines. “Overall, it was a very good experience,” she concluded.

Looking ahead, Caro expressed, “The only direction now is up.”

The first round of the season will be played as the last round, after the supposed opening day on September 27 was postponed due to inclement weather.

The Blue Eagles are set to face De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ) in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions on October 4 at 1 p.m. at the AdU Gymnasium for the third round of the tournament.