AGM Venancio Loyola Jr. Secures Second Consecutive Title in CEPCA Monthly Chess Tournament

Arena Grand Master (AGM) Venancio Loyola Jr. continues to dominate the chess scene in Cebu as he secured his second consecutive title in the Cebu Executives & Professionals Chess Association (CEPCA) monthly tournament held at Robinsons Galleria Cebu over the weekend. Loyola Jr., the tournament’s top seed, finished the six-round event unbeaten with 5.5 points, further solidifying his status as the player to beat in the CEPCA circuit.

Throughout the tournament, Loyola Jr. displayed his exceptional skills by defeating strong opponents such as National Master (NM) Leonardo Alidani and NM Arnolito Cadiz. Despite a minor setback with a draw in Round 5 against Marquis Angelo Mallorca, Loyola Jr. ensured a dominant finish by defeating NM Cadiz in the final round to clinch back-to-back titles.

Mallorca finished in second place with 5.5 points and was also recognized as the tournament’s best Under-12 competitor. Joel Pacuribot secured the third spot with 4.5 points, while NM Cadiz and Amado Olea Jr. completed the top five.

With this latest triumph, Loyola Jr. has now won two consecutive CEPCA monthly tournaments, solidifying his reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the local chess scene. The tournament also showcased the talent and competitive spirit of the participants, with close matches and impressive performances throughout the event.

The success of Loyola Jr. and the other top finishers highlights the growing popularity and competitiveness of chess in Cebu. As the chess community continues to thrive, fans can look forward to more exciting tournaments and fierce competition in the future.