Ateneo Junior Boys place 3rd in UAAP Season 87 Rapid Chess inaugural; Pio Caro wins gold

Comprised of players from both the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School (ASHS) and Junior High School (AJHS), the Ateneo Juniors chess varsity concluded its UAAP Season 87 campaign with a commendable 2nd runner-up finish in the boys' division of the inaugural UAAP Rapid Chess Championships, held last month at the Adamson Gym.

The team roster included Aidan Mejia (11-Hurtado) and Luis Gutierrez (11-Borja) from ASHS; and Yash Cayabyab (10-Saito), Pio Caro (9-Garnet), Marc Fua (8-Delgado), and Arjay Co (8-Colombiere) from AJHS.

Under the guidance of coaches Ildefonso Datu and WNM Joann Datu, the Blue Eagles brought home individual board medals, securing one gold and five bronzes. Pio Caro clinched the gold medal for his performance in the rapid event and a bronze in blitz. Aidan Mejia, Luis Gutierrez, and Marc Fua each won a bronze medal in their respective boards in the rapid format, while Arjay Co earned Ateneo's fifth bronze for his board in the blitz category.

The inaugural UAAP Season 87 Rapid Chess Championships were contested on 22-23 and 30 March 2025 at Adamson University in Manila. The rapid event featured a 15-minute time control with a 10-second increment per move, while the blitz format had a 3-minute time control with a 2-second increment per move. Other participating schools in the Juniors division were DLSU, FEU, UST, and Adamson. 

The awarding ceremony was held on 5 April 2025, also at Adamson University.