Lyceum edges Letran, keeps lead in NCAA chess

MANILA, Philippines – Jonathan Jota and John Jasper Laxamana hurdled their foes on boards three and four as Lyceum trounced Letran, 3-1, to remain on top after the first round of the 90th NCAA seniors chess competition at the Athlete’s Dining Hall of the Rizal Memorial Complex.

Jan Francis Mirano and Prince Mark Aquino drew with Melwyn Kenneth Baltazar and Paul Christian Barroga on top boards to clinch the win for the Pirates, who hiked their total to 29 points or an impressive three points ahead of the pack headed by the St. Benilde chessers.

La Salle-Greenhills, for its part, edged San Beda, 2.5-1.5, to emerge the best juniors team after the first round by barely edging a resurgent, International Master Paolo Bersamina-led Letran side by a mere half a point.

John Marvin Miciano and Julius Gonzales delivered the wins for the Greenies on second and third boards while Francis Roi Parro split the point with Justine Joric Hernandez on fourth board to pull off the escape win that hiked their total to 29 points.

Brent Lennard Alanan provided the lone victory by the Cubs on Board One.

Half a point behind were the Squires, who blasted the Junior Pirates, 3-1, on wins by Bersamina, Eric Robert Yap and Alexis Anne Osena on boards one to three.

Letran’s lone loss came on fourth board after Manolo Angelo Martinez fell to Lyceum’s Charles Vincent Galpo.

It was the 16-year-old’s fourth straight victory since returning two weeks ago from his memorable tour of duty with the Philippine chess team that participated in the 41st World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway last month.