THE UST Male Woodpushers settled for a 2-2 stalemate against the bottom-ranked Adamson University in the UAAP Season 86 men’s chess tournament at the FEU Tech Gym on Sunday, Oct. 22.
Melito Ocsan Jr. remained in the winning column after dismantling Adamson’s Arena Fide Master Alfonso Olendo and his Pirc Defense in 33 moves.
UST’s lone loss came after the debuting Carl Daluz and his Caro-Kann Defense succumbed to John Sunga’s Fantasy Variation counter in 30 moves.
UST team captain Brylle Vinluan blundered his winning position against Matt Ramos to settle for a draw in his first match of the season, while Chester Reyes forced a tie against John Simon in 76 moves.
“Medyo nag-relax ‘yung mga bata eh, winning na winning na yung board natin sa team captain (Vinluan),” UST head coach Ronald Dableo told the Varsitarian. “Pagka-tabla niya, nag-tabla din yung isa (Reyes), nag-draw tuloy tayo overall.”
“Possibility ang rust. Possible factor ‘yan why we failed to secure the win,” he added.
The Male Woodpushers still hold the top spot with seven points through four rounds, while the Adamson Soaring Falcons remained at the bottom with a single point.
In junior’s play, the UST Junior Male Woodpushers captured a dominant 3.5-0.5 win over De La Salle Zobel to rise atop the standings and tie with Far Eastern University Diliman.
Jian Rivera, Al-Basher Buto and Ronald A. Dableo outsmarted their La Salle foes, while Karlycris Clarito settled for a draw in Board 1.
The Junior Lady Woodpushers also toppled the Adamson Baby Falcons, 3-1, to reach the top of standings with five match points, tying with FEU which had similar match points.
UST’s Nathalie Liscano and Faith Tabungar overcame their Adamson opponents in Board 2 and Board 4, while Precious Yecla and Mecel Gadut settled for draws.
The UST Male Woodpushers will next face the FEU Tamaraws to cap off Stage 1 of the men’s chess tournament at the same venue on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 1 p.m. Brenn Allen L. Flores
