Adamson University maintained its perfect start in the boys’ division after sweeping tournament debutant Southridge School, 4-0, while the University of Santo Tomas seized solo control of the girls’ division after Round 3 of the UAAP Season 89 High School Chess Championships on Sunday at the BGPOP Building on the UST campus in Manila.
The Baby Falcons secured their third consecutive victory to improve to six match points and 11 board points, retaining the top spot ahead of fellow unbeaten Far Eastern University-Diliman, which also recorded a 4-0 shutout of De La Salle Zobel but trailed by one board point.
Allan Dolfo [2.5/3.0] spearheaded Adamson’s dominant performance on Board 1, using his powerful bishop pair to mount pressure on Romeo Reyes III [0.5/3.0] on the kingside before executing a bishop-for-rook exchange that forced the Southridge standout to resign on the 34th move.
Jian Bautista [2.0/2.0] followed suit on Board 3, capitalizing on an inaccuracy by Gael Garcia [0.5/3.0] and employing a decisive pin to gain a full rook advantage, forcing his opponent to resign after 32 moves.
Ashton Fratkin [2.5/3.0] and Bince Operiano [2.0/2.0] completed Adamson’s sweep with convincing victories over Carl Nathan Importante [1.0/3.0] and Romeo Funtila [0.5/3.0] on Boards 2 and 4, respectively.
Meanwhile, FEU-D kept pace with Adamson after blanking De La Salle Zobel, 4-0, behind victories from Joemel Narzabal [2.5/3.0], King Xyan Beltran [2.0/3.0], Lord Yofiel Young [2.0/2.0], and Gabriel Givero [1.0/1.0].
Narzabal defeated Gian Marco Caguiat [0.5/3.0] on Board 1, while Beltran prevailed over Kervin Dominguez [0.0/3.0] on Board 2.
Young and Givero completed the sweep with victories over Kenzie Ong [0.0/2.0] and Sebastian Partido [0.0/1.0] on the bottom two boards.
Defending champion UST also delivered a 4-0 sweep of Ateneo High School to climb to third place with four match points.
Jian Carlo Rivera [2.5/3.0] defeated Andrei Chua [0.0/1.0] on Board 1, while King Lanz Pamplona [1.0/2.0] and Prince Alexander De Luna [1.5/2.0] turned back Marc Justinn Fua [1.0/3.0] and Joachim Manuel [1.0/3.0] on Boards 2 and 3, respectively.
Marlon Balbaboco Jr. [2.0/2.0] completed the Junior Male Woodpushers’ shutout with a victory over Ronell Co [0.5/3.0] on Board 4.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
In the girls’ division, UST broke away from a tie with FEU-D after edging the Lady Baby Tamaraws, 2.5-1.5, to claim the solo lead with six match points.
Penelope Sanchez [2.5/3.0] delivered a crucial victory over Woman National Master Bonjoure Suyamin [2.0/3.0] on Board 2, while Angel Nicole Po [1.5/2.0] defeated Khana Ventolero [1.0/3.0] on Board 3 to power the Junior Tigresses to their third consecutive victory.
Kara Meneses [1.0/2.0] and Giecel Pacubat [2.5/3.0] split the point on Board 4, while LJ Getubig [2.0/3.0] secured FEU-D’s lone victory by defeating previously unbeaten Angela Sotaridona [2.0/3.0] on Board 1.
FEU-D consequently slipped into a tie for second place with Adamson at four match points and 7.5 board points apiece.
The Lady Baby Falcons also joined FEU-D in second place after turning back Ateneo High School, 3-1, with Eilzah Bandejas [1.0/2.0] and Athena Casas [2.5/3.0] securing points by forfeit on the top two boards.
Antonette Atienza [1.0/1.0] added another point for Adamson by defeating Caitlyn Oh [1.0/3.0] on Board 4, while Mikayla Tusi [2.5/3.0] accounted for Ateneo’s lone victory with a win over Samantha Beatrice Mislang [1.0/3.0] on Board 3.
National University Nazareth School, meanwhile, entered the win column after defeating De La Salle Zobel, 3-1, to improve to two match points.
Ryien Bahita [2.0/3.0] and Mica Clar [1.5/3.0] led the Jhocson-based squad with victories over Sophia Orosa [1.0/3.0] and Xophi Holgado [1.0/3.0] on Boards 1 and 2, respectively.
Lara Dalagan [1.5/2.0] added another point for NUNS by prevailing over Alexa Enas [0.0/2.0] on Board 4, while Jeslyn Elmeirah Santos [1.0/3.0] delivered De La Salle Zobel’s lone victory against Zneria Venal [1.0/3.0] on Board 3.
The tournament will resume on October 24 at the same venue.
