Woman FIDE Master Ruelle Canino.
FEU captures UAAP chess crown
FAR Eastern University went undefeated throughout the season to annex its second straight women’s title at the close of the UAAP chess tournament at the Adamson Gym Tuesday night.
The Lady Tamaraws flexed their might all season long dominating the field with 10 wins and 2 draws, securing the crown as early as Round 12.
“I think they really deserve it kasi talagang nagsumikap yung mga players. Lalo na nung duration ng UAAP, may sariling mga initiative yung mga players na mag-aral on their own. Yan naman talaga yung pinakaimportante para sa isang player. ” said FEU assistant coach and Woman Grandmaster Janelle Frayna.
Woman National Master Mhage Sebastian became the focal point of the Lady Tamaraws’ Season 87 championship as she spearheaded the assault from the top board with seven wins and three draws against two losses en route to clinching the gold medal and the MVP award.
“Very thankful ako kay God kasi po throughout this tournament ginabayan niya po ako even though may mga naging talo rin po ako. Nung natalo kasi ako, napanghindaan ako ng loob. After that ang naging mindset ko na lang is just play your game,” said Sebastian who also won the UAAP MVP in the girls’ division while playing for two seasons ago.
“Yan din sabi ng parents ko, laruin na lang yung game. Huwag na isipin yung individual standings. Actually yung pagiging MVP, di ko siya masyadong iniisip. Ang sakin lang po as long as magchampion yung team at mag gold ako. Yun lang po talaga. Yung MVP is just added blessing.”
FEU-Diliman, Sebastian’s high school alma mater, meanwhile, swept the girls’ and boys’ division titles for the third straight season.
It was the seventh women’s title overall for the Lady Tamaraws.
Woman National Master Vic Glysen Derotas (Board 2), Woman National Master Mary Joy Tan (Board 3), Francesca Largo (Board 4), Samantha Umayan (Board 5) and Rhea Jean Canino (Board 6) also secured gold medals in their respective boards.
La Salle entered the podium after a strong performance in the last two rounds to take the runner up trophy while National University settled for third place.
Ateneo’s Lexie Hernandez copped the top rookie plum courtesy of a silver medal finish on Board 3.
FEU-Diliman’s girls’ team finished with seven wins and one draw while the boys squad went undefeated in eight matches this season.
Woman FIDE Master Ruelle Canino, who represented the Philippines in this year’s FIDE Chess Olympiad, went flawless in eight matches to nab the gold medal on Board 2 along with a second straight girls MVP award.
The boys season MVP went to Oscar Cantela, who also pocketed a gold medal on Board 1.
Long-time FEU coach and Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales remains happy with another near-sweep but could not help but aspire for a historic sweep of all chess titles in the UAAP seeing the talent that his players have shown in the past seasons.
“Last year, advance din kami ng two rounds sa high school (na makuha yung championship). Nakatulong din na konti lang kasi yung teams kaya maaga namin nakuha yung championship. Right now, ang target talaga namin is to try to complete a sweep of all four divisions,” Gonzales said.
The men’s title went to University of Santo Tomas, which completed a three-peat and 11th overall. FIDE Master Christian Mark Daluz, who anchored España-based side’s title defense with an undefeated record across nine matches, earned the season MVP award with a gold medal performance on the top board.
