The University of Santo Tomas outwitted the competition en route to another golden finish in the UAAP Season 85 Chess Tournament, successfully retaining its title inside the FEU Tech Gym last Dec. 17.

UST’s Male Tiger Woodpushers had the gold in the bag as soon as the second to the last round of the tournament as they ended with a 31.5 mark — a wide 7.5 more than the University of the Philippines’ 24.0 silver-medal finish.

The Woodpushers amassed a total of three golds, one silver, and one bronze to secure the championship.

Julius Gonzales was named co-MVP alongside UP’s Fide Master Stephen Pangilinan, who outsmarted the former in their Board 1 assignment to grab gold.

“Halo-halo ang nararamdaman ko ngayon pero overall, masaya,” said Gonzales as the Tiger Woodpushers brought its ninth chess title, and second straight in Espana.

It was a fitting conclusion for UST as the Tigers asserted supremacy across the boards throughout the tournament with Brylle Vintuan, Lee Roi Palma, Antonio Almodal II all bagging gold in Boards 3, 4, and 5, respectively.

Mark Gerald Reyes rounded up the tally with his bronze in Board 6.

For UST coach Ronald Dableo, the success of his team came down to the good problem of manpower and crisp player management.

“Pinakapuhunan ko lang talaga yung magandang pakisama rin sa player tulad ngayon andaming player na gustong pumasok (sa amin). Siguro nakikita nila yung way ng samahan, yung way ng pamamalakad sa team,” said Dableo, who have now led UST to back-to-back titles after the school’s nine-year chess spell.

Meanwhile, UST finished fifth in the tournament’s women’s division with 23.0 points.

UST’s Macydel Fajardo took bronze in Board 1 while Jamaica Lagrio grabbed silver in Board 5.