THE UST Male Woodpushers asserted their dominance anew after trouncing the De La Salle Green Woodpushers, 3.5-0.5, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s chess tournament at the FEU Tech Gym on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Chester Reyes overwhelmed DLSU’s Francis Guimalan in 62 moves using the Modern Defense opening to remain undefeated this season.
Melito Ocsan Jr. and Julius Gonzales also remained unbeaten as they toppled Daniel Lemi and Diomel Escutin in 49 and 54 moves, respectively.
Mark Daluz held Green Woodpusher Cyril Telesforo to a draw in Board 1.
“Kung ano ‘yung ginagawa naming routines, wala kaming babaguhin kung maganda naman ang results,” UST head coach Ronald Dableo told the Varsitarian. “Tuloy-tuloy lang kami.”
The UST Male Woodpushers remained atop the standings with six match points, while the DLSU Green Woodpushers dropped to fifth with two match points.
In the women’s division, the UST Lady Woodpushers notched their first win after narrowly defeating Ateneo, 2.5-1.5.
Dableo attributed the win to assistant coach, Grandmaster Darwin Laylo.
“Kasi ‘yung preparations talaga, kay assistant coach (Laylo) na, grandmaster ‘yan at saka Asian Games participant pa,” Dableo said. “World-renowned na player ‘yan, so malaking factor ‘yung maitutulong niya sa mga openings.”
Princes Onita opened with the Sicilian Defense to outplay Ateneo’s Kristine Flores in 34 moves, marking the UST’s first win of the day.
Rohanisa Buto doubled the win tally for UST with a 31-move drubbing of Alphecca Gonzales.
Josemier Panol sealed the Lady Woodpushers’ win after salvaging a draw against Ateneo’s Maria Villa in the longest game of the day with 85 moves.
UST’s lone loss came after Joannah Olay bowed down to Jiessel Marino in Board 1.
“Kaunting improvements pa kasi ‘yung isang first-year player ko (Olay), sayang, winning na winning na eh,” Dableo said. “Medyo napabilis eh, nakikita ko mag-mamature pa ito. First year pa kasi baka kinakabahan pa.”
In the junior’s play, the UST Junior Male Woodpushers thrashed the Adamson Baby Falcons, 4-0, while the Junior Lady Woodpushers went for a 2-2 stalemate against Far Eastern University Diliman.
The UST Lady Woodpushers will take a bye in the next round, while the Male Woodpushers will next face the Adamson Falcons at the same venue tomorrow, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. Brenn Allen L. Flores
