Checkmate: CASS Tali’s Chess Run Comes to a Close

by Pia Natalie Daymiel and Jessa Mae Lebumfacil


In a plexure of brains and strategies, with a thrilling display of moves, intuition, and mental strength, the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) Tali’s men’s and women’s teams showcased their art of war on the chessboards from April 2 to 4 in the PALAKASAN Chess Tournament.


After a three-day battle of minds at the College of Economics, Business and Accountancy (CEBA) Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) Laboratory against top chess players from the other six colleges, CASS Tali’s women’s chess team placed sixth. The men’s chess team, on the other hand, ranked seventh.


The tournament featured both Standard and Blitz formats, held on April 2-3 and 4, respectively. Each category consisted of seven rounds, with two boards each for the men’s and women’s divisions. The best chess players from every college competed simultaneously in a true test of mental stamina.


As “there is no ‘I’ in team, but there’s a ‘we’ in Powerpuff,” CASS teams in both divisions would not have gone down swinging without the tactical minds taking the gambit. Assembling the dynamic teams were two main players and two reserves. The men’s team consisted of Florito Puzon, Renz Edzel Simeon, Jani Roi Mirabueno, and Muhaimen Dibansa.


According to Mirabueno who views chess as a game of arts instead of math, “If we talk about chess, daghan kaayo na siya og branches of possibilities. From one move pa lang daan—pawns pa lang daan—daghan na kaayo og possibilities, daghan na kaayo og pwede mabuhat sa next moves. From sa elementary pa ko and from what my father taught me, ang chess kay naa ra jud na, murag ikaw bitaw gud ga decide sa pieces, dili ang book.”


In the women’s team, Farnisa Mamao, Merinisah Ibrahim, Casandra Hannah Lantud, and April Aveguil Pamisa showcased their sharp tactics and psychological resilience.


“Pressured, pressured mi kay sila dagko og rating, mga 1800 while kami kay—ako kay 1100 ra, so na pressure mi katong pagkakita namo nga mga 1800 og mga regional players sila. So, experienced sila while kami kay dili pud mi kabalo atong notations, katong mag-write pa sa standard, mag-write pa mi og letters, numbers, dili mi familiar so need pa namo i-practice,” Ibrahim revealed.


Having a similar perspective with Mirabueno, Ibrahim also expressed that, “I don’t play based sa mga books. Ang uban kay ga-study jud sila sa mga libro. Kami kasi kay family sport na siya so we play for fun, and it is frustrating for me nga wala ko masyado win kasi all my life, sa mga competition kay permi ko daog, mga champion and all so I was very proud of it. Karon nga naa nako sa point nga ‘hoy napilde ko,’ ‘napilde ko,’ ‘napilde napud ko,’ nakuan akong pride pud. Pero of course, as a chess player, normal rajud nang mapilde jud ka, it’s something nga need jud nimo to do better, mag-learn more, and na-inspire ko nga magkuan ug books, wala pako ga-start pero magkuan ko, para kuan naa pud koy experience sa mga ilang ginabuhat nga mga strategies.”


After three long days filled with patience, discipline, critical thinking, and adaptability, as well as sugar and spice, CASS Tali’s men’s and women’s chess teams can now claim their prize that goes beyond medals and podiums: cheers and congratulations from their CASS family, as well as love and appreciation for the fight that they did not back down from.