THE UST Male Woodpushers inched closer to clinching their fourth consecutive championship after overpowering the FEU Tamaraws, 3-1, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s chess tournament at the Adamson University Gymnasium on Sunday, Nov. 10.
UST improved to 14 match points and 26 game points while also knocking the third-ranked FEU out of finals contention with nine match points and 18.5 game points.
With two rounds remaining, the Male Woodpushers only need at least a 2-2 draw in their next game against the Adamson Soaring Falcons to virtually secure the championship.
Despite the Male Woodpushers nearing a four-peat, UST head coach Ronald Dableo warned against complacency, especially with the second-ranked UP Fighting Maroons behind with 11 match points and 19.5 game points.
“May chances pa rin na baka matalo tayo nang 0-2 sa next games—matalo tayo ng UP tapos makasunod-sunod na panalo sila, lalamang pa sila. So hindi pa tayo complacent; hindi pa tayo puwedeng mag-relax,” Dableo told the Varsitarian.
Chester Reyes extended his winning streak to five games after outmaneuvering FEU’s Dale Bernardo and his English Opening in 73 moves.
In Board 3, Melito Ocsan Jr. unleashed the Bastrikov Variation of the Sicilian Defense for a 61-move victory over FEU’s Istraelito Rilloraza.
UST’s Mark Daluz forced a draw against fellow FIDE master Mark Bacojo to stay unscathed, while Reyes settled for a stalemate with FEU’s Christian Olaybal after 30 moves.
In juniors’ play, the UST Junior Male Woodpushers crashed out of title contention after suffering a 3.5-0.5 defeat against the top-seeded FEU-D Baby Tamaraws.
The Junior Male Woodpushers remained in second place with 12 match points and 13.5 game points, while FEU-D virtually bagged the boys’ championship with 16 match points and 25 game points.
In the girls’ division, the UST Junior Lady Woodpushers hit a roadblock in their title campaign, bowing down to the NUNS Lady Bullpups, 3.5-0.5.
UST remained in second place with 11 match points and 15 game points, while NUNS sat in fourth place with eight match points and 14.5 game points.
The UST Male Woodpushers will seek to complete the four-peat against the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the same venue.
