Defending champion University of Santo Tomas remained undefeated after surviving a tough 2.5-1.5 win over De La Salle University, securing at least a runner-up finish after Round 8 of the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Chess Championship at the FEU Tech Gym in Manila on Sunday.
UST has now won six and drawn two matches, improving to 14 match points heading into the final two rounds of the season.
Ateneo de Manila University stayed close in second with 12 match points, but a 3.5-point win by UST in Round 9 will keep the championship trophy with the España-based squad, regardless of the results in Round 10.
FIDE Master Christian Daluz [4/7] snapped a two-game skid after miraculously winning a losing position down by a piece with DLSU’s Jester Sistoza [0.5/4], committing a 59th move blunder that gifted away a full undefended rook, leading to a quick resignation by the 60th move on Board 1.
National Master Chester Reyes [7.5/8] scored his seventh win in eight matches by executing a 41st move Rook sacrifice to win a piece and comfortably take the victory in the endgame after the 60th move against Daniel Lemi [3.5/8] on Board 3.
National Master Julius Gonzales [5/7] then settled for a 72-move draw against Kris Oswald Olvido [3.5/7] on Board 4 to bag the win as Melito Ocsan Jr. [6/8] suffered his second loss against National Master Cyril Telesforo [6/8] on Board 2.
Ateneo also secured a place on the podium after a 2.5-1.5 win over Far Eastern University in Round 8.
Paul Matthew Llanillo [4/4] remained perfect so far as he took down Hans Olorosisimo [2/7] on Board 1.
Janmyl Tisado’s [4/6] victory against FEU’s John Kenneth Gelua [2.5/4] on Board 4, coupled with Christopher Kis-ing’s [3.5/8] draw with FIDE Master Keth Morado [5.5/8] on Board 3, ensured Ateneo’s victorious Round 8.
National Master Christian Olaybal [4.5/7] registered FEU’s lone win as he took down Tristan Cervero [4/7] on Board 2.
University of the Philippines also inched closer to a third straight podium finish after putting away Adamson University, 3-1.
FIDE Master Stephen Pangilinan [7/8] and Melson Gallo [2.5/4] each scored a win against Arena FIDE Master Alfonzo Olendo [1/8] and Matt Joseph Ramos [2.5/8] on Boards 1 and 3, respectively, as Arena International Master Cyrus Francisco [3.5/8] and Michael Olladas [2/5] shared the points with John Rocel Simon [1/7] and John Frederick Sunga [1.5/4] on Boards 2 and 4, respectively.
The penultimate round will be held on Saturday, November 18.
