THE UST Junior Male Woodpushers prevailed over De La Salle Santiago Zobel, 3-1, to keep their title bid alive in the UAAP boys’ chess tournament at the FEU Tech Gym on Saturday, Nov 18.
Sumer Oncita notched UST’s first win after toppling Paolo de Vera’s English Opening in 32 moves.
Ronald Dableo Jr. capitalized on the Modern variation of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack to outsmart James Vinluan in 36 moves.
The Scotch Opening was the key to National Master Al-Basher’s 42-move win over Michael Dogelio.
However, Karlycris Clarito faltered against National Master Thyrone Tabernilla in 45 moves in Board 1.
The UST Junior Male Woodpushers are now tied with Far Eastern University Diliman with 13 match points ahead of their clash in the last round of the tournament, while De La Salle Santiago Zobel remained in last place with two match points.
The Junior Male Woodpushers will have to defeat FEU to win the championship.
In case of a draw, the title will be awarded to the team with higher game points. Currently, FEU has 25 game points, while UST has 21.5 game points.
In the girls’ division, the UST Junior Lady Woodpushers finished their UAAP Season 86 campaign with a 3-1 thrashing of the Adamson Baby Falcons to notch the third spot.
Precious Yecla and her English Opening clobbered Adamson’s Florence Isabedra in 36 moves, while Marjeri Janapin utilized the Sicilian Defense to claw Lira Placer in 48 moves.
Mecel Gadut snagged her first win of the tournament after outlasting God Morales in 66 moves.
However, Junior Lady Woodpusher Nathalie Liscano fell short against Christina Samarita in 71 moves in Board 3.
The UST Junior Lady Woodpushers ended the season with nine match points built on four wins and a draw.
The UST Junior Male Woodpushers will face Far Eastern University Diliman at the same venue tomorrow, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m.
