THE UST Male Woodpushers subdued the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 3-1, and the UP Fighting Maroons, 2.5-1.5, to maintain their spotless slate in the UAAP Season 88 men’s chess tournament at the Adamson Gym on Sunday, Oct. 5.
UST tightened its position at the top of the leaderboard, improving to eight match points and 12 game points.
Against Ateneo, Christian Mark Daluz bagged his second victory of Season 88 in Board 1 after streamrolling Eowyn Jullado in 41 moves.
In Board 2, Chester Neil Reyes annihilated Ateneo’s Cedric Abris’ Four Pawns Attack in 58 moves.
Lee Roi Palma picked up his third win this season in Board 3, outclassing Arena FIDE Master Ritchie Abeleda’s Scandinavian Defense after 59 moves.
However, Jan Clifford Labog remained winless in Season 88, as his Scandinavian Defense fell short after 63 moves to the Blue Eagles’ Christopher Kis-Ing in Board 4.
Against UP, Daluz, Reyes, and Palma settled for stalemates against Aristotle Calica, Daniel Tagufa, and Roderenz Adra, respectively.
Allan Hilario delivered UST’s lone victory after cruising past Melson Gallo to keep the Male Woodpushers’ perfect record intact this season.
In the boys’ division, the Junior Male Woodpushers notched their third straight win in Season 88 after sweeping the DLSZ Junior Woodpushers, 4-0.
In Board 1, Gabriel Paradero routed Tyrhone Tabernilla’s King’s Indian Defense in 43 moves.
Jian Rivera’s Caro-Kann Defense clobbered Gian Caguiat after 59 moves in Board 2.
In Board 3, Jude Dableo overpowered Kervin Dominguez in just 33 moves, while Sumer Oncita bested Collin Chiong in Board 4.
The Male Woodpushers will next take on the FEU Tamaraws on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the same venue. Meanwhile, their high school counterparts will face the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
