San Beda chessers clinch 1st round pennant

MANILA, Philippines – San Beda routed Emilio Aguinaldo, 3.5-0.5, and then blanked Letran, 4-0, to virtually clinch the first round pennant of the 92nd NCAA seniors chess tournament at the Jose Rizal Gym in Mandaluyong City last weekend.

The twin romps hiked the Lions total to 28.5 points, 5.5 points clear of the Arellano U Chiefs, the defending back-to-back champions, netting them the first round title even if they drop their final round match to the Mapua Cardinals on Saturday.

Arellano, meanwhile, dumped Jose Rizal University and San Sebastian College by the same score, 3.5-0.5, to stay at No. 2 and a spot in the second round where only the top four teams will advance based on the new format implemented by the league for the first time this season.

The qualifiers will then go into another round-robin format. If San Beda tops the field again, it will clinch the championship outright.

Otherwise, the Lions will face the team that will rule the second round in a one-game playoff.