Adamson University seized sole control of the boys’ division, while University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University-Diliman emerged as joint leaders in the girls’ division after Round 2 of the UAAP Season 89 High School Chess Championships on Sunday at the BGPOP Building of UST’s Manila campus.
The Baby Falcons maintained their perfect start in the boys’ division with a 3-1 victory over Ateneo High School, raising their total to four match points and taking the top spot over FEU-Diliman by virtue of the board-point tiebreak.
Debuting duo Bryce Bayani [1.0/1.0] and Charles Candor [1.0/1.0] delivered full points for Adamson against Marc Justinn Fua [1.0/2.0] and Bryan Landicho [1.0/2.0] on Boards 1 and 4, respectively.
Allan Dolfo [1.5/2.0] and Ashton Fratkin [1.5/2.0], meanwhile, split the points with Joachim Manuel [1.0/2.0] and Ronell Jose Co [1.5/2.0], respectively, to seal the victory.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
In the girls’ division, FEU-Diliman forged a tie with UST for the top spot with a dominant 3.5-0.5 victory over Adamson, led by undefeated Giecel Pacubat [2.0/2.0], who scored a 38-move victory over Samantha Mislang [1.0/2.0] on Board 4.
Lj Getubig [1.0/2.0] and Woman National Master Bonjoure Suyamin [2.0/2.0] likewise scored victories over Crystal Sunga [1.0/2.0] and Eilzah Bandejas [0.0/1.0], respectively, on the top two boards.
Khana Ventolero [1.0/2.0] rounded out FEU-Diliman’s near-shutout victory with a draw against Athena Casas [1.5/2.0] on Board 3.
The Baby Tamaraws also delivered a stellar performance in the boys’ division, edging defending champion UST, 2.5-1.5.
National Master Angelo Mallorca [1.0/2.0] scored the decisive victory for FEU-Diliman after defeating King Lanz Pamplona [0.0/1.0] on Board 3, while Joemel Narzabal [0.5/2.0], King Xyan Beltran [1.0/2.0], and Yohan Instrella [0.5/1.0] settled for draws with Jian Carlo Rivera [1.5/2.0], National Master Gabriel Paradero [1.5/2.0], and Prince Alexander De Luna [0.5/1.0], respectively.
Newcomer Southridge School also claimed its first win of the season after escaping De La Salle Zobel, 2.5-1.5, with Carl Nathan Importante [1.0/2.0] defeating Kervin Dominguez [0.0/2.0] on Board 2.
Romeo Reyes III [0.5/2.0], Gael Vito Garcia [0.5/2.0], and Romeo Funtila [0.5/2.0] then split the points with Gian Marco Caguiat [0.5/2.0], Collin Chiong [0.5/2.0], and Bernardo Escalona [0.5/1.0], respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
In the other girls’ division match, UST kept its perfect start intact after securing a narrow 2.5-1.5 victory over National University Nazareth School.
Iana Sotaridona [2.0/2.0] remained spotless on Board 1 after defeating Ryien Bahita [1.0/2.0], while Penelope Sanchez [1.5/2.0], Angel Po [0.5/1.0], and Angela Gadut [0.5/1.0] all settled for draws with Mica Clar [0.5/2.0], Zneria Venal [1.0/2.0], and Lara Dalagan [0.5/1.0], respectively.
Archrivals La Salle and Ateneo, meanwhile, settled for a 2-2 draw.
Sophia Orosa [1.0/2.0] and Xophi Holgado [1.0/2.0] accounted for La Salle’s two points with victories over Sapphire Abano [0.0/2.0] and Serenity Pesino [0.0/2.0], respectively, while Mikayla Tusi [1.5/2.0] and Caitlyn Oh [1.0/2.0] delivered the wins for Ateneo against Jeslyn Santos [0.0/2.0] and Alexa Enas [0.0/2.0], respectively.
Round 3 of both divisions is set for Sunday, October 11, at 8:30 a.m. at the same venue.
