University of Santo Tomas continued to assert its dominance in the men’s division after securing back-to-back victories in Rounds 4 and 5 of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Chess Tournament on Sunday at the Adamson Gym.
The España-based squad opened the day with a resounding 3-1 win over Ateneo de Manila University before edging the University of the Philippines in a tight 2.5-1.5 encounter.
FIDE Master Christian Mark Daluz (3.5/4) (Board 1), Chester Reyes (3.5/4) (Board 2), and Lee Roi Palma (3.5/4) (Board 3) each tallied a win and a draw, typifying UST’s commanding form.
Against UP, however, it was Allan Hilario (1/1) who delivered the decisive point on Board 4, ensuring UST’s winning streak remained intact after the top three boards all ended in draws.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the women’s division, De La Salle University held on to the top spot after pulling off an impressive 2.5-1.5 upset of defending champion Far Eastern University in Round 7.
Francois Magpily (2.5/5) led La Salle with a win over fellow Woman National Master Mhage Sebastian (1.5/4) on Board 1, while Checy Telesforo (2.5/3) added another victory over FEU’s Joyce Rueda (1/2) on Board 4.
Heart Padilla (2/3) then held Woman National Master Vic Glysen Derotas (3.5/4) to a draw on Board 3, securing La Salle’s triumph.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
National University, which settled for a 2-2 split with La Salle in Round 6, stayed within striking distance of the league leader after surviving UST, 2.5-1.5, behind wins from Woman FIDE Master Allaney Doroy (5/5) and Jersey Marticio (3.5/5) on Board 1 and Board 2, respectively.
Fifth-running Ateneo also bounced back from a Round 6 defeat, closing out Round 7 with a narrow 2.5-1.5 victory over UP.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the other men’s division matches, Ateneo remained in second place despite finishing with a win and a loss in the two-round marathon.
Arena FIDE Master Ritchie Abeleda (3/4) led the Blue Eagles’ fightback from a Round 4 loss as he scored his third win in four matches against Adamson’s Robert Palisoc (0/3) on Board 3, complementing Cedric Abris’ (2/4) triumph on Board 1 against John Rocel Simon (2/4).
FEU, on the other hand, took down La Salle with a 2.5-1.5 win, courtesy of FIDE Master Mark Bacojo (2.5/4) and Jerish John Velarde’s (2/2) solid play on Board 1 and Board 2, respectively.
The postponed opening matches, originally scheduled for September 27, will be played on Wednesday, October 8.
