University of Santo Tomas continued to lead the UAAP Season 85 Men’s Chess Championships after a dominant 3.5-0.5 win over Ateneo in Round 6, Saturday at the FEU Tech Gym in Manila.
With 20.5 points, the Tiger Woodpushers extended their lead to 6.5 points against second-running University of the Philippines (14.5 points) going into the last four rounds of the season.
Lee Roi Palma (5.5 pts/6 games) spearheaded UST’s rampage in Round 6 by taking the win in Board 2 against Ateneo’s Hans Jeremy Reyes (0/3) in 26 moves of the Slav Defense while playing the white pieces.
Antonio Almodal III (2/2) then successfully scored back-to-back wins by way of a 50-move conquest of Ateneo’s Candidate Master Paul Matthew Llanillo (1.5/6) while Mark Gerald Reyes (1/1) delivered an impressive debut for UST, forcing Paolo Joaquin Villa (0/2) to resign after 26 moves of the King’s Indian Defense with the white pieces courtesy of a nifty kingside attack.
Julius Gonzales (4.5/6.0) closed out UST’s dominance with a draw on Board 1 across Christopher Khalil Kis-Ing (4.5/6) in 68 moves of a rook endgame.
UP also barged into the win column, after four straight draws, with a 3-1 thrashing of De La Salle University.
Jan Daryl Batula (4.5/6) remained unscathed after taking down Daniel John Lemi (2.5/6) in Board 3 while Joshov Rosarda (1/2) easily dispatched Jester Sistoza (2/5) in Board 4.
Fide Master Stephen Pangilinan (5/6) also remained undefeated on the top board as he settled for a deuce against Diomel John Escutin (0.5/3).
In Board 2, Mark James Marcella (1.5/5) also snapped out of his slump, finally enlisting his name on the scoreboard with a draw against undefeated Cyril Telesforo (5/6).
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University bounced back from their Round 5 mishap with a strong 3.5-0.5 win over Adamson University to take the third spot.
In Board 1, Hans Ezekiel Olorisisimo (3/5) secured a win over Vince Arellano (0/4) followed by National Master John Merill Jacutina’s (3.5/6) triumph over Gerald Gonio (0/4) in Board 2.
John Kenneth Gelua (2/2) followed suit with a win in Board 4 against AdU’s Jolan Ballobar (0/4).
John Frederick Sunga (2.5/6) avoided a shutout loss as he held FEU’s National Master Lorenzo Cantela (4/6) to a draw in Board 3.
Round 7 is scheduled on Sunday, December 4.
