Far Eastern University (FEU) women’s chess team showed grit and determination, earning a semifinal spot after an impressive showing in the last elimination rounds of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 rapid chess tournament last Wednesday, March 26, at the Adamson University St. Vincent Gym in Manila City.

The Morayta squad soared from fourth place, securing their rise with back-to-back victories. 

In a thrilling Round 6 showdown, FEU triumphed over the University of Santo Tomas (UST), showcasing their ability to adapt to the fast-paced competition. 

Building on their momentum, the standard format champions continued their strong performance in Round 7 against Adamson University (AdU), securing 8.0 (14.5) points overall and finishing third to qualify for the Final Four.

Despite initial struggles under the new tournament format, the Lady Woodpushers’ perseverance led to a string of victories. Women’s Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) Master (WFM) and Season 86 Most Valuable Player Mary Joy Tan credited their adjustments for the turnaround.

“Kitang-kita naman talaga na talo kami in the first two rounds kasi iba rin ‘yung rapid kesa sa nakasanayan naming standard chess. Kailangan mong mas mabilis mag-isip dahil sa time control (It was obvious that we lost in the first two rounds because rapid is different from what we are used to in standard chess. You have to think faster because of the time control),” she said in an interview with FEU Advocate.

Tan emphasized how the guidance of their head coach, Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, and their coaching staff helped refine their strategy and mindset, playing a key role in their comeback.

“Kapag marami kaming nalalaro, parang nasasanay na ‘yung mind at body namin na dapat mabilis tumira. Dapat mabilis rin ang thought process at bawal kang mag-space out—focus lang dapat sa board mo at sa laro (When we play a lot, it seems like our minds and bodies are used to settling down quickly. The thought process should also be fast and you should not space out—you should just focus on your board and the game),” she explained.

Now heading into the semifinals, the Lady Woodpushers are eager to take on the next stage of the tournament, which will feature a knockout-style format—a departure from the traditional round robin system.

“Pinaka-excited kami sa Final Four kasi first time itong mangyayari sa chess. Madalas kasi sa volleyball at basketball lang namin ito nakikita, kaya every win counts talaga (We are most excited about the Final Four because it is the first time this will happen in chess. We usually only see this in volleyball and basketball, so every win counts),” the WFM shared.

Fueled by their success, the green-and-gold squad aims to carry their momentum into the semifinals against Ateneo de Manila University tomorrow, March 29, at the same venue. The finals will also be played on the same day.

Meanwhile, the top-seeded high school girls’ team will play in their respective finals match tomorrow after accumulating 8.0 (12.5) points.

- Aine Peralta
(Photo by Zedrich Xylak Madrid/FEU Advocate)