UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas delivered a statement win, asserting its dominance over last season’s runner-up University of the Philippines with a 4-0 victory in its second match of the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Chess Championships at the FEU Tech Gym in Manila on Sunday.
The Tiger Wood pushers now take the solo lead after Round 2 with four match points. Far Eastern University currently sits second with three match points after a strong performance against Adamson University.
Fide Master Christian Mark Daluz [1.5/2] achieved the most impressive victory for UST when he clinched a win by playing two rooks against a queen in the endgame. This forced Fide Master Stephen Pangilinan [1/2] to resign on Board 1 after the 53rd move due to an unstoppable mating attack.
Melito Ocsan Jr. [2/2] also secured a win against Arena International Master Cyrus Francisco [0.5/2] on Board 2, using the Caro-Kann Defense while playing the black pieces.
Chester Neil Reyes [2/2] and Season 85 co-MVP Julius Gonzales [2/2] also had convincing wins over UP’s Joshov Alekhine Rosarda [0/1] and Michael Olladas [0/1] on Board 3 and 4, respectively.
