By Zem Ellica & Jay Fuentes |
Pressure heightens as the clock ticks, indicating the passage of time; a second less to plan a strategy. With no room for error, players were compelled to think fast as they attempted to put the opponent’s king in an inescapable check. The Rome Gladiators managed to survive and dish out quick moves, settling on top of both men’s and women’s divisions last February 24, 2023, at Ateneo de Davao University - Senior High School (AdDU-SHS) Room A-104.
Rome and Manresa fight for both the Men’s and Women’s championships. For the women’s division, fighting for third place is Barcelona and Montserrat. Finally, for the men’s division, still fighting for bronze, Salamanca and Pamplona.
Mr. James Bulicatin from the Ateneo Chess Team facilitated the entirety of the Chess games. He laid the directions for the players—ensuring a fair-flowing round. Along with him in the guidance are those players who competed in the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) Sportsfest last January 2023 and the student marshals from Pulsong Atenista Student Government (PASG) and Ateneo Senior High Commission on Elections (ASHSCOM).
Although an unforeseen turn of events thwarted the original schedule, it continued in another venue due to the tight scheduling of events. Nonetheless, the chess matches went off without a hitch.
Eliminations kickoff
The first round was officially opened on February 3, 2023. Competitors fiercely fought for the glory of their cluster as the bouts continued to take their course.
Here is the list of the contending clusters and the victorious participants:
Men's Division:
COMPETING TEAMS | WINNER |
Rome vs. Salamanca | Rome |
Montserrat vs. Barcelona | Barcelona |
Manresa vs. Jerusalem | Manresa |
Pamplona vs. Paris | Pamplona |
Women's Division:
COMPETING TEAMS | WINNER |
Rome vs. Salamanca | Rome |
Montserrat vs. Barcelona | Barcelona |
Manresa vs. Jerusalem | Manresa |
Pamplona vs. Paris | Pamplona |
Gearing Up for the Finals
An extraordinary clash of wit and grit took place on February 17, 2023, during the Chess Men’s and Women’s semifinals. The players’ determination to succeed in the finals was evident in the tension in front of the chapel. The contestants and the victors are as follows:
Men's Division:
COMPETING TEAMS | WINNER |
Match 1: Rome vs. Salamanca | Rome |
Match 1: Manresa vs. Pamplona | Manresa |
Match 2: Rome vs. Manresa | Rome |
Match 2: Pamplona vs. Salamanca | DRAW |
Match 3: Rome vs. Pamplona | Rome |
Match 3: Manresa vs. Salamanca | DRAW |
Women's Division:
COMPETING TEAMS | WINNER |
Match 1: Rome vs. Manresa | Rome |
Match 1: Montserrat vs. Barcelona | Barcelona |
Match 2: Rome vs. Barcelona | Rome |
Match 2: Manresa vs. Montserrat | Manresa |
Match 3: Rome vs. Montserrat | Rome |
Match 3: Manresa vs. Barcelona | Barcelona |
The Final Showdown
As people crowd around the table in the ending throes of the Men’s championship match, Rome takes the lead as Manresa runs out of time in a heated battle. The Women’s final match finished earlier than the others; with less than ten pieces on the board, Manresa was backed into a corner as Rome took the win.
Fighting for third in the men’s division in the match between Salamanca and Pamplona are Jude Corage and Grayzon Villanueva; the former excitedly takes the win whilst congratulating his opponent for a fair game.
And in a surprisingly wholesome match during the women’s division with Barcelona vs. Montserrat, biological siblings Doreen and Trisha Teves go head to head while fighting for third. Barcelona takes home third place and Montserrat comes down to fourth.
Rome’s coach, Mr. Ian C. Dimol, stood proud as his mentees, Lamont Baptista and Angel Halangdon, bagged gold in both categories. Noeweli Canales and Keara Jacosalem of the Manresa cluster take the silver.
All bets were off during this year’s IGNITE as each and every cluster rallies its students to compete for the true meaning of winning. This year’s chess games not only serve as an avenue for clamor but also a passage for camaraderie.
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