The NCAA Season 96 began last June 13, 2021, following a new format and calendar due to the cancellation of contact sports--deeming online sports platforms to be the safest option-- thus, online Chess became one of the main events of the season.
The Junior division was highlighted by the very strong performance of Jasper Faeldonia who masterfully made his way to the quarterfinals, against Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Reginald Canlas. However, Faeldonia’s trip to the semifinals was halted by Letran’s Christian Mark Daluz.
In the Senior division, Carl Jaedrianne Ancheta pushed his way to the championship round against Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Neymark Digno. In this game of mental stamina where strategy and tactics play a major role, Ancheta through his determination and perseverance brought home the silver medal (2nd place).
According to their head coach, Rudy L. Ibañez, the strong performance of the chess team is a result of the exposure and experience gained by the players in participating in different matches and competitions which has brought titles such as the National Masters Title for the Juniors team. This is a validation of their true potential as chess players which in the process prepares them for future national leagues such as the NCAA.
The reason for the team’s competitiveness comes from the initiative of the players to make use of the online chess programs that the coaches and the University offer. As per coach Rudy, even before the pandemic happened, the chess team communicated through online platforms such as Tornelo, chess.com, lichess, etc., enabling them to play individually or in a team format. By adapting to this routine, the chess Chiefs have better chances of making their way to the top in any type of competition, even under the current pandemic situation.
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