MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion Far Eastern University scored easy victories over National University, 3.5-.5, and Ateneo de Manila, 3-1, to move within a win from sweeping the first-round of the 73rd UAAP chess competitions at the FEU Technology Bldg., Nicanor Reyes St., Manila.
Lennon Hart Salgados, Sheider Nebato, Antonio Chavez and Kevin Mirano provided the victories for the Tamaraws, who raised their total to 19.5 points and a perfect six match points in the eight-team, double-round robin tournament.
Salgados trounced Mark Tanamor, Nebato outclassed Benz Anastacio and Mirano dumped Jake Sarco for FEU.
Chavez defeated Gabriel Layugan, while Mirano subdued Nathan Matthew Sarigumba in the lower boards for FEU’s two wins over Ateneo.
Salgados and Nebato settled for draws with Joaquin Ignacio Davila and Alcon John Datu on the first two boards.
The Tamaraws, who are seeking an unprecedented fifth straight title, have also won over University of Santo Tomas (3.5-.5) in the first round, University of the Philippines (3.5-.5) in the second round, La Salle ( 3.5-.5) in the third round and Adamson ( 2.5-1.5) in the fourth round.
FEU goes for the sweep against University of the East today.
UE, led by Nelson Mariano III and Aaron Rivas, defeated Ateneo, 3-1, in the fifth round and UP, 2.5-1.5, in the sixth to remain in second place with 14 points.
Adamson, bannered by Ferdinand Reyes Jr. and Ali Guya, and UST, headed by Joey Albert and Patrick Erle Florendo, are running third and fourth with 13.5 and 13 points, respectively.
Adamson beat la Salle, 3-1, in the fifth round and drew with UST, 2-2, in the next.
UST also halved the point with UP, 2-2, in the fifth round.
In women’s division, La Salle also firmed its grip of the solo lead with 19.5 points, 3.5 points ahead of UST.
WNM Jedara Docena, Akio Charmaine Suede, Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Judith Pineda led La Salle to a 4-0 sweep over NU in the fifth round and 3-1 win over UST the following round.
The Lady Archers failed to complete a sweep when Suede lost to the Tigresses’ Ma. Zayrah de la Cruz on board three.
Before losing to La Salle in the sixth round, UST drubbed UP, 3-1, in the fifth with Christine Joyce Laz, CarinaLauren Lumacad and Loraine Salinas scoring over Krizzalyn Abasolo, Mira Jose and Joanna Barbosa, respectively.
Defending champion FEU crushed UE, 3.5-.5, in the fifth round and Adamson, 4-0, in the sixth round to forge a four-way tie for third to sixth places with Ateneo, NU and UP with similar scores of 13.5 points.
Ronna Reigner Senora, Jedara Docena, Lovelyn Medina and Angelina Morros carried the fight for the Lady Tamaraws.
Ateneo, bannered by the country’s top female player WFM Cheradee Chardine Camacho and Kristine Mae Mariano, beat Adamson, 2.5-1.5, and NU, 3-1.
In the junior division, FEU outduelled last year’s champion Adamson, 2.5-1.5, and UE, 3-1, to grab the solo lead with 15.5 points.
Jerad Docena whipped Timothy So Kua and McDominque Lagula outsteadied Karen Enriquez for the Baby Tamaraws’two victories over the Baby Falcons.
Adamson struck on victory by Tyrone de los Santos over Vince Angelo Medina.
The match between Paul Robert Evangelista and Das Vergara ended in a draw.
NU dumped UST, 3.5-.5, and then drew with Adamson, 2-2. to climb into solo second place with 14 points.
Adamson is third with 13.5 points.