THE UST Male Woodpushers carved up a 2.5-1.5 victory against the DLSU Green Woodpushers to inch closer to a three-peat in the UAAP men’s chess tournament at the FEU Tech Gym on Sunday, Nov. 12.
Melito Ocsan Jr. faltered against DLSU’s Cyril Telesforo’s Queen’s Gambit after 53 moves in Board 2.
However, Chester Reyes evened the score for UST after utilizing the Vienna Game to topple Daniel Lemi in 60 moves.
Mark Daluz overcame a late surge from DLSU’s Jester Sistoza in 60 moves to give UST a 2-1 advantage.
Reigning MVP Julius Gonzales ended UST’s day with a 70-move overcoming of Kris Olvido’s Rèti Opening.
“Nire-remind ko lang ‘yung players na kumalma lang kasi kung para sa amin yung championship, para sa amin lang talaga championship,” UST head coach Ronald Dableo told the Varsitarian. “Ang importante lang is to remain calm and mag-focus lang sa laro.”
The Male Woodpushers are one win away from completing their three-peat, tallying the league’s best record of 14 match points with two games left. The Green Woodpushers have already been eliminated from podium contention with five match points.
In the boys’ division, the UST Junior Male Woodpushers thwarted Ateneo, 3.5-.5, to keep the second spot with 11 match points.
Karlycris Clarito, Oshrie Reyes, and Al-Basher Buto toppled their Ateneo foes, while Sumer Oncita settled for a stalemate.
Meanwhile, the Junior Lady Woodpushers succumbed to league-leading FEU Diliman, 3-1, to remain in third place.
Nathalie Liscano remained unbeaten after notching UST’s lone win, while Precious Yecla, Marjeri Janapin, and Faith Tabungar wavered to their FEU foes.
The UST Male Woodpushers will have a chance to clinch the championship against the Adamson Soaring Falcons in their next game at the same venue on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 1 p.m.
