Dennis Gaviola

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759140938276UAAP88 CHESS-WOMENS R3 USTvADMU_Precious Day Yecla(UST)-4223.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="UST&#x27;s Precious Yecla in the UAAP Season 88 women&#x27;s chess competition at the Adamson Gym. UAAP Media"/>UST&#x27;s Precious Yecla in the UAAP Season 88 women&#x27;s chess competition at the Adamson Gym. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- University of Santo Tomas made an early push to seize the top spot in both the men&#x27;s and women&#x27;s divisions at the conclusion of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Chess Tournament&#x27;s opening day on Sunday at the Adamson Gym.The Lady Woodpushers opened the floodgates with a 3-1 stunner over the University of the Philippines before following it up with a statement 3.5-0.5 victory against Ateneo de Manila University.Standing at four match points after two rounds, UST is firmly ahead of the pack, much to the delight of coach Ronald Dableo.&quot;Malaking bagay yung panalo dahil kumbaga, hindi kami mapressure na naghahabulan kami sa standings. Malaking factor yan na panalo. Isustain na lang,&quot; he said.Precious Yecla (Board 1) and Josemier Panol (Board 2) set the tone for UST by earning two wins apiece, while Jamaica Lagio contributed 1.5 points with a win and a draw.In the men&#x27;s division, FIDE Master Christian Mark Daluz (1/1) showcased his brilliance by outmaneuvering Angele Biete (0/1) after 89 moves in a rook endgame, leading UST to a 3-1 thrashing of La Salle.&quot;Maingat eh. Very slim yung chance niya manalo dun sa laro pero ginrind lang niya nang ginrind yung posisyon eh,&quot; said Dableo of Daluz&#x27;s debut performance.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759140963353UAAP88 CHESS-MENS R2 USTvDLSU_Christian Mark Daluz(UST)-4131.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="FIDE Master Christian Mark Daluz of UST in the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s chess competition at the Adamson Gym. UAAP Media"/>FIDE Master Christian Mark Daluz of UST in the UAAP Season 88 men&#x27;s chess competition at the Adamson Gym. UAAP Media</div>UP also had a strong opening day, dominating Adamson University 3-1 to keep pace with UST atop the standings. Io Calica (Board 2) and Roderenz Adra (Board 4), combined with rookie Daniel Tagufa (Board 3), racked up three wins against Joshua Roque, Dustin Herrero, and Robert Palisoc, respectively.Far Eastern University and Ateneo closed out the men&#x27;s division opening day with a 2-2 draw.Meanwhile, National University made a dramatic debut, pulling off a 2.5-1.5 upset win over defending champion FEU in the women&#x27;s division.Woman FIDE Master Allaney Doroy (1/1) and Jersey Marticio (1/1) toppled Woman FIDE Master Mhage Sebastian (1/2) and Samantha Umayan (1/2) on Boards 1 and 2, respectively. Jelaine Adriano (0.5/1) then held Francesca Largo (1.5/2) to a draw to secure NU&#x27;s victory.Despite the loss, FEU remained in second place thanks to a 3.5-0.5 walloping of Adamson in an earlier round.La Salle also broke into the win column earlier in the day, defeating Ateneo 2.5-1.5. Rinoa Sadey (1/1) and Heart Padilla (1/1) secured victories over Ma. Elayza Villa (0.5/2) and Alphecca Gonzales (0/2) on Boards 2 and 3, respectively.UP, which lost earlier to UST, salvaged a 2-2 draw with Adamson in the other women&#x27;s match to earn its first match point of the tournament.<div> </div><div>UST ALSO DOMINATES HIGH SCHOOL DIVISIONS</div>Meanwhile, UST also emerged as opening day leaders in boys&#x27; and girls&#x27; divisions, after a near-sweep of its matches in the UAAP Season 88 High School Chess Championship.The Junior Lady Woodpushers opened the season in perfect form, scoring a 4-0 shutout over De La Salle Zobel, while the Junior Male Woodpushers posted a 3-1 walloping of Ateneo High School.UST began its campaign in the boys&#x27; division with Jude Dableo (1/1) and Sumer Oncita (1/1) earning decisive wins over Jose Pio Caro (0/1) and Aidan Mejia (0/1), as Arena International Master Gabriel Paradero won by default on the top board.In the girls&#x27; division, Trina Temple (1/1), Angel Po (1/1), Kara Meneses (1/1), and Mecel Gadut (1/1) all scored victories against Francesca Icay (0/1), Jeslyn Santos (0/1), Alexa Enas (0/1), and Xephi Holgado (0/1), respectively, underscoring UST&#x27;s dominance.However, National University Nazareth School stole the spotlight with a thrilling 2.5-1.5 upset of defending champion Far Eastern University, highlighted by Sara Dalagan&#x27;s (1/1) 53-move conquest of national team mainstay and Woman FIDE Master Ruelle Canino (0/1) on the top board.Dalagan&#x27;s tactical brilliance was on full display as she punished Canino&#x27;s 14th-move blunder with a knight sacrifice, gaining a pawn and creating an unstoppable passed pawn en route to a convincing victory.&quot;Record po samin yung manalo ngayon kasi team effort eh. Ang tagal naming nagprepare para dito. Yung mga bata ang laking oras yung sinakripisyo eh,&quot; said NUNS coach and FIDE Master Roel Abelgas of his team&#x27;s monumental victory over FEU, who completed an undefeated championship run last season.&quot;FEU kasi sila yung strongest team ngayon diyan sa high school eh. Ngayon, natalo namin sila. Tingin ko may chance na kami (na magchampion) pero depende pa rin kung ano yung mangyayari sa mga next matches,&quot; he added.Arena FIDE Master Ryien Bahita (1/1) also notched a win over Franiel Magpily (0/1), while Kayla Aurelio (0.5/1) split the point with FEU&#x27;s Ericka Oridizo (0.5/1) to close out NU&#x27;s triumphant debut.Adamson University also registered a win with a 3-1 victory over the debuting Ateneo High School girls&#x27; team. The Sampaloc-based squad repeated the feat in the boys&#x27; division, with Jonver Acosta (1/1), Jian Bautista (1/1), and Ashton Karl Fatkin (1/1) securing victories over De La Salle Zobel&#x27;s Santino Edralin (0/1), Gian Caguiat (0/1), and Kevin Dominguez (0/1), respectively.National Master Tyrhone Tabernilla (1/1) was the lone bright spot for La Salle, bagging a win against Bryce Bayani (0/1).Defending boys&#x27; division champion FEU sat out with a bye on opening day.<div></div>

University of Santo Tomas made an early push to seize the top spot in both the men's and women's divisions at the conclusion of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Chess Tournament's opening day on Sunday at the Adamson Gym.

University of Santo Tomas made an early push to seize the top spot in both the men's and women's divisions at the conclusion of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Chess Tournament's opening day on Sunday at the Adamson Gym.

UAAP: UST takes early lead in men's and women's chess

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UAAP: UST takes early lead in men's and women's chess

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 29, 2025 06:18 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 29, 2025 06:33 PM PHT

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