Alejandra Cata Pallo, a Graphic Design student at ESPOL’s Faculty of Art, Design and Audiovisual Communication (FADCOM), won the silver medal in the women’s individual category at FISU América Chess 2026, the Pan-American University Chess Championship, which brought together more than 200 participants from universities across Latin America.
The individual competition put the chess players’ strategic quick thinking and adaptability to the test in the Blitz category (3-minute time control), a format featuring fast-paced, dynamic games. Reflecting on her experience, Alejandra said: “It was incredible because it was a pace I’m not really used to.
“I’m more of a traditional player; this time it was Blitz – very fast-paced and exciting games. There were girls from all over Latin America, so it was quite a battle.” In addition to her outstanding individual performance, the Polytechnic student was part of the team comprising Alejandra Cata, David Ramos and Juan Diego Wong, which won the bronze medal in the team competition, held from 9 to 12 June 2026.
The Polytechnic delegation’s participation in this international competition reflects ESPOL’s commitment to the all-round education of its students, fostering environments where academic talent, discipline and strategic thinking extend beyond the classroom and are applied in highly competitive settings. This achievement also demonstrates how chess contributes to the development of skills such as concentration, decision-making and problem-solving – skills that complement the training of creative and innovative professionals at FADCOM and throughout the polytechnic community.
© Photography: Courtesy / Written: José Luis Castro
