The 26th OAB-SP/CAASP Chess Tournament is hosted by ESEG.

Last Saturday, May 24th, the ESEG College, part of the Etapa Group, hosted for the first time one of the most traditional championships for lawyers in São Paulo: the 26th OAB-SP/CAASP Chess Tournament. The event, promoted by CAASP, brought together lawyers duly registered with the OAB-SP (São Paulo Bar Association), as well as their dependents and students from the institution itself.

Played in a Swiss format, the tournament took place in the Noble Hall of ESEG and had around 40 participants. The competition was marked by fast and intense matches, emphasizing strategic thinking and decision-making under pressure, since each player had only 10 minutes to complete each game. It was also the first time that the championship took place outside the CAASP headquarters, which reinforced the relevance of the partnership with the Faculty.

“I really enjoy chess. It’s a sport I’ve followed since I was a child. So, having the opportunity to play with colleagues and interact with them is very interesting. I’m looking forward to the competition, as the facilities are perfect. I’ve never played with a clock before, I’m quite excited,” commented lawyer João Victor, minutes before the start of the tournament.

Divided into categories such as Masters, ESEG, Men's and Women's, the tournament provided exciting matches between beginners and veterans. Over five rounds, players accumulated points and the top finishers were awarded prizes. For Fábio de Oliveira, one of the event organizers, the competition's debut at the Faculty was a milestone. “I am very happy with this partnership. We managed to make the tournament, which traditionally takes place at our headquarters (CAASP), here at ESEG, with a spectacular structure and sensational hospitality,” he stated.

Among the students at ESEG, the enthusiasm was also visible. Heitor de Melo, a Computer Engineering student, highlighted the importance of the initiative: “I am very happy to know that there is a chess tournament at my Faculty, as it is a sport that should be more widely publicized. I thought it was very well organized and I really liked that they brought a tournament of this size here,” declared the young man.

Lawyer Jaqueline Marques, with 13 years of experience and a chess enthusiast, also praised the organization: “I really liked the structure, the coffee, the reception, everyone. I've participated in other editions, but this was the first time I received a game uniform,” she highlighted.

At the end of the tournament, the winners went up to the podium to receive their awards. In the men's category, the top 10 received medals, with trophies for the first three. In the other categories, the champions took home a trophy. As a bonus, a pair of tickets to the São Paulo Aquarium was raffled off.

Check out the winners:
Masters Tournament: Horacio Prol Medeiros
ESEG Tournament: Henrique Levy Alves Balangio
Men's Tournament: Hudson Coutinho Hilario
Women's Tournament: Luciana Maria dos Santos

Hudson Hilário, champion in the men's category, has participated in other editions of the tournament and praised the Faculty's facilities. “This is my first time here at ESEG and I'm really enjoying it; the space is enviable,” commented the lawyer, who added: “I've been playing chess continuously for 15 years and I was pleased with my opponents, who were very strong. The feeling of winning is excellent, because those who play chess face not only their opponent but also the clock, and that demands a lot from those who practice the sport. That's why I'm very happy!”.

Henrique Levy, a Production Engineering student at ESEG who won his category, celebrated his performance with enthusiasm: “The structure was good and everything was very well organized. The matches were quite challenging. Although difficult, I had a lot of fun and left with an unforgettable prize.”.

Fábio de Oliveira emphasized the success of the event. “Holding the tournament here at ESEG was incredible and a success. Proof of that is that we doubled the number of participants compared to the last edition. May this be the first of many!”, he celebrated. 

With the success of the partnership, the expectation is that other sporting and cultural events will gain space in ESEG's programming, reinforcing the institution's role as a meeting point for enriching experiences, both inside and outside the classroom.

Stay tuned to our channels and follow the upcoming actions that will be carried out in partnership with CAASP.