From a childhood fascination with a chessboard at home to a pressure-filled Armageddon finale, Accountancy (ACC) Griffin Mikaela Parilla emerged victorious in the women’s chess tournament in this year’s Palarong Atenista.
Parilla’s toughest challenge came during her second game, when an advantageous position quickly turned against her after she was forked and blundered one of her pieces.
“I became disappointed and lost my momentum, until most of my pieces were captured,” she recalled.
With her opponent left with only a king and a pawn while she had only her king, ACC Griffins Parilla fought to prevent the pawn from promoting and secured a draw.
When her games did not go according to plan, she relied on patience rather than forcing her original strategy.
“I simply continued developing my pieces and maintaining a firm structure until I could find a weak position in my opponent’s game that I could attack,” she said.
The pressure reached its peak during her final match, an Armageddon game where everyone in the room watched as she battled for the championship.
“The pressure was intense, and I was afraid of disappointing my teammates and making mistakes.”
Despite her busy schedule, Parilla and her teammates practiced ahead of the competition, where she learned to be more deliberate with her decisions on the board.
Through constant reminders and advice from her manager, teammates, and chess-playing friends, Parilla learned to assess her position more carefully before committing to a move.
“Before, I was an impulsive decision-maker. I would move my pieces according to my plan without considering the vulnerability of my position,” she said.
Her chess journey began in fourth grade, when she grew curious after seeing her classmates play.
“My grandpa taught me the basic chess rules, including the roles of the pieces, their movements, and the basic principles of the game,” she shared.
The silver and bronze medalists for the women’s chess tournament have yet to be released.
The Palarong Atenista ’26 women’s chess tournament was held at F213 Multipurpose Room, Finster Building, on September 23.