APAYAO LASS LEADS FEU CHESS TEAM TO LEAD

November 4, 2023 Provincial Sports

Apayao Pride Women National Master Mhage Sebastian led Far Eastern University in a first-round sweep. This after dominating the University of the Philippines, 3-1, in Round 6 of the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Chess Championships at the FEU Tech Gym in Manila last Saturday. The Lady Tamaraws went undefeated in six matches in the first half of the season and established a sizable lead heading into the second half of the season.

The Lady Tamrawas have 12 match points to take a big lead on defending champion National University which has seven match points. FEU will take a bye in Round 7. De La Salle University is
in the third spot with four match points. Sebastian is almost unstoppable as she racked 5.5 points out of a possible six, her fifth straight win came by defeating Geraldine Guyo [1/ 4] on Board 3 in 49 moves of a rook endgame.

Baguio pride, WNM Bea Mendoza [1/3] also registered her first win over Katherine Bunao [0/1] on Board 4 after forcing her rival to resign after 53 moves of a rook endgame. WNMs Vic Glysen Derostas [4.5/6] and Mary Joy Tan [4/6] then shared the points with UP’s Precious Ferrer [2/4] and Jallen Agra [2.5/5] on Board 1 and 2, respectively, to complete FEU’s victory.

NU also solidified its podium bid by bearing Ateneo de Manila University, 2.5- 1.5. WNM Alleny Doroy [4/5] led the way with a victory on Board 1 over Jiessel Marino [3/5], which was complemented by Nastaja Balabbo’s [4.5/5] triumph over Aleck Saniego [0/1] on Board 4. Jesca Docena [2/5] secured NU’s win with a draw on Board 3 against Kristine Flores [2/5], as Princess Ballete [2/5] fell to Ma. Elayza Villa [2.5/5] on Board 2. Meanwhile, DLSU improved to third place after a 2-2 split against the University of Santo Tomas.

Pigeon Lobien/ABN