By: Ed Ubaldo
Far Eastern University – Diliman took off from where they left off with a near shutout of University of Sto. Tomas, 3-1, in Round 2 of the UAAP Season 85 Girls Chess Championships on Sunday at the FEU Tech Gym in Manila.
The win was a perfect follow-up to a rousing 4-0 sweep in Round 1 and increased their total to 7 after Round 2.
In Board 1, Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian played accurately in a king and pawn endgame to force UST’s Ferrose Joy Rafailes to resign by the 56th move.
April Joy Claros (Board 2) also played superbly with the white pieces in 53 moves of the Sicilian Defense to secure UST’s second point followed by Ruelle Canino’s lethal mating attack in Board 3 that forced Merjeri Janapin to resign after the 48th move.
Defending champion National University also scored a dominant 3.5-0.5 conquest of Adamson University to remain a close second.
Ma. Elayza Villa (Board 2), Alphecca Gonzales (Board 3), and Yana Emilou De Vera (Board 3) all scored wins in their respective assignments as Jelaine Adriano settled for a draw in Board 1.
