MANILA, Philippines – Far Eastern University (FEU) kicked off its bid for a 1st Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-National Capital Region (NCR) chess team crown by sweeping its 1st assignments on Tuesday.
 
The Lady Tamaraws, composed of Doha ASIAD veteran campaigner Woman National Master (WNM) Jedara Docena, Rulp Ylem Jose, Jenny Rose Palomo and Ronna Reigner Senora, defeated New Era University at the Manila Business College (MBC) in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

“It's a great start for the Lady Tamaraw team,” said two-time Olympian Grandmaster (GM) Jayson Gonzales.

He led the opening rites on Tuesday with Asia's First GM Eugene Torre, MBC Senior Vice-President Frederick Stephen Ding, Jr. and CHED-NCR Director Dr. Catherine Castañeda.

In the men's play, Rizal Technological University (RTU) Mandaluyong stamped their class by edging Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 2.5-1.5, while New Era University made up for the loss of their women's team by crushing Asia Pacific College, 4-0. FEU took a bye in the 1st round.

The winners in this CHED-NCR national game qualifying round will represent NCR in the national finals set this year.

Guest speaker National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President/Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Jr. was unable to attend the said affair.

“Binabati ko ang mga organizer ng CHED-NCR Chess National game. Hope makadiskubre tayo ng future world class player sa event na ito na magdadala ng karangalan sa bayan sa hinaharap,” said Pichay, who attend the Lakas-Kampi-CMD (Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats) provincial sortie at the Ynares Gym in Antipolo City on Tuesday.

Aside from being the NCFP president and chairman, Pichay is also the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) chairman and Lakas-Kampi-CMD vice-president. – by Marlon Bernardino