FAR Eastern University smashed Adamson 3.5-.5 last Wednesday to go into the UAAP Season 87 women’s blitz Final Four as the top seed while bolstering its three-peat feat bid at the Adamson Gym.
Franchesca Largo, Mhage Sebastian and Me Ann Joy Baclayon provided the decisive wins on boards one, two and four, respectively, while Samantha Umayan drew with Angela San Luis on fourth board, capping the Lady Tams’ domination of the elimination round where they finished with 46 match points, or a whopping eight points ahead of No. 2 La Salle.
Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas ended up third and fourth, respectively, with 37 points each, completing the semis cast set tomorrow, Saturday, at the Falcons’ lair in San Marcelino, Manila.
FEU had its men’s team making the Final Four after finishing second in the eliminations behind UST, while the former’s high school boys and girls have both advanced to the final.
FEU is trying to assert its might in chess after snaring three of the four chess gold medals in the standard event last year and two of four in the rapid section less than a week ago.
Rapid and blitz are making their debut as demonstration sports and there’s a big possibility it just might end up as regular events shortly.
“That’s our hope, to promote chess and add more scholarships to young chess players who also want an education,” said FEU coach Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines’ chief executive officer.
