FEU-Diliman is now within reaching distance of another double championship in boys and girls divisions after dominating in round seven of the UAAP Season 87 High School Chess Tournaments held at the Adamson Gym on Saturday.
The Baby Tamaraws won again in the boy’s division that placed them at 12 match points having defeated Ateneo High School with a 4-0 to be four points clear its nearest competitor for the title.
In Board 1, Oscar Cantela made his 5th point with a 5/6 win over Ateneo’s Aidan Mejia (0.5/5) by resignation after 25 moves of the English Opening.
Jerish John Velarde (5.5/6) won a checkmate against Jose Pio Caro (1/4) with the game lasting 36 moves on Board 2; Franklin Andes (3/4) managed to corner Arena FIDE Master Ronell Co (2.5/5) with a checkmate on Board 3 that only took 37 moves.
Lemuel Adena with 5/5 to win all his games captured his opponent from Ateneo University’s Luis Gutierrez with a score of 2.5/5 on Board 4.
The 16-year-old prodigy emerged unscathed again for a record 7/7 finisher, outplaying Arena FIDE Master Ryien Bahita (0/3) on Board 2 after 49 moves from the Queen’s Pawn Opening.
April Joy Carlos (6/6) was not behind in giving a fitting sword on the third Board where the helpless opponent, Sara Dalagan (2.5/5) got checkmated at the 52nd move on a string of queening pawns.
In the sister match Franiel Magpily drew 2/3 and pulled out a 25th move bishop sacrifice against a rather passive setup from Kayla Aurelio who drew 0/2, to effectively lock up the board 4 points.
Jersey Marticio (4.5/6) escaped from being shutout in the match by beating Kate Ordizo (3.5/6) in the first match on Board 1 where she suffered her second defeat.
Adamson University also crept nearer a podium finish in the girls’ division after dominating DLSZ with a 4-0 score.
Lira M Placer (2.5/5), Christen Reyes (3/4), Florence Isabedra (2.5/5), and Ma. Christina Samarita (4/5) got victories over Mariel Solis (0/4), Franchesca Icay (0/4), Ayana Montes (0/4), and Jeslyn Santos (0/5) respectively.
Adamson School is third with six match points, two points in front of fourth placer NUNS.
UST boys, in particular, routed Adamson with a narrow 2.5-1.5 triumphs that put them in the center of championship contention in round eight.
UST’s Karlycris Clarito Jr. won his match 3.5/5) and checkmated Jonver Acosta (2.5/6) while John Cyrus Borce defeated Jian Bautista (2/6) 2.5/3).
Jian Rivera (3/5) made the win for the Junior Tiger Woodpushers possible as he tied with Bryce Bayani (3/4) in Board 4.
The only win of Adamson in the seventh round was Allan Dolfo (3/6) who outclassed Sumer Oncita (2/4) on the first board.
The rounds for both the boys and the girls divisions will proceed today, Sunday.
