The unstoppable Lee Roi Palma juggernaut has been slowed down.
National University found a way to stall the rampaging Palma as Chester Neil Reyes held the former to a draw. But it wasn’t enough to prevent it from absorbing a crushing .5-3.5 defeat to University of the East in the 12th round of the UAAP Season 82 Boys’ Chess tournament at Quadricentennial Pavilion, Sunday.
It was the first result that didn’t end up a victory for Palma, who rode roughshod of his opponents to go unscathed in his first eight games.
Noel Geronimo, Francis Roi Parro, and John Kenneth Gelua delivered the decisive wins on the second to last board to secure the one-sided win while hiking their total to 31.5 points with two rounds remaining in the schedule.
The result may have virtually booked UE the title as it now leads closest pursuer NU by a whopping four points as the latter has 27.5.
Far Eastern University, last year’s champion, overpowered Ateneo, 3.5-.5, to zoom to third place with 24.5 points.
FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri returned to action and won on top board, the same result provided by Lorenzo Aaron Cantela and Christian Marcelo Olaybal on second and third boards, respectively, while Lemmuel Jay Adena split the point with Ramon Joseph Gelvenzon on fourth board.
In the only other result, University of Santo Tomas trounced La Salle-Zobel, 3-1.
The high school girls’ section had a break.
