DLSU captures men's chess crown, FEU tops distaff side

MANILA, Philippines -- De La Salle hammered out a 3-1 victory over Adamson University to ended a decade-long wait for the men's division crown at the close of the UAAP Season 77 chess tournament Sunday at the Henry Sy Sr. Bldg. inside the DLSU campus.

NM Jerad Docena and Franz Grafil starred for the Green Woodpushers in the final round, frustrating the Falcons' bid to clinch their first title in 25 years.

With 40.5 points, La Salle annexed its seventh title overall to tie University of Santo Tomas as the second winningest squad behind Far Eastern University's 14, and the first since 2004-05 season with John Paul Gomez leading the way.

Docena was named the tournament Rookie-MVP in the men's division.

Adamson, with 37 points, achieved a second consecutive runner-up finish. The Growling Tigers finished 33.5 points in third spot, while the deposed champion Tamaraws are out of the podium, crashing to fourth place with 30.5 points.

The Lady Tamaraws, meanwhile, ended the Lady Woodpushers' four-year reign in the distaff side, spoiling the Taft-based school bid for a rare championship double.

Despite a 1.5-2.5 loss to La Salle in the 14th round, FEU gained enough cushion to bag its second women's crown with 44 points. The Lady Woodpushers settled for second place with 43 points.

The much-anticipated top board duel between WIMs Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Janelle Mae Frayna ended up in a draw, but the Lady Tamaraws secured the championship after Shania Mae Mendoza defeated fellow WFM Cherry Mae Mejia in Board 2.

Frayna, who beat Fronda in their first round meeting, took home the season MVP honors, while Mendoza bagged the Rookie of the Year plum.

Among the gold medalists in the men's division are IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Ateneo (Board 1), La Salle's Docena (Board 2), Adamson's Kevin Labog (Board 3), UST's Christian Flores (Board 4), La Salle's Nigel Galan (Board 5) and Justin Corpin of University of the Philippines (Board 6).

FEU's Frayna (Board 1), La Salle's Mejia (Board 2), WIM Bernadette Galas also of La Salle (Board 3), FEU's Venice Vicente (Board 4), FEU's Nikki Yngayo (Board 5) and Cyamie Villanueva (Board 6) are the gold medal winners in the women's side.

In the juniors division, National University claimed the crown with 37.5 points, beating FEU-Diliman (33) and Adamson (32).

The Bullpups' Ryan Magtabog took the MVP award, while University of the East's Lee Roi Palma is the Rookie of the Year.