Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano stepped it up when it mattered most as he completed a come-from-behind win to clinch the juniors division title in the Visayas leg of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship yesterday at the SM City-Consolacion event center.
The top-seeded Sevillano, who is from Tuburan town, northwestern Cebu, restored order in the final four rounds of the two-day tournament, climbing from third after five rounds last Saturday to the top.
The University of San Carlos ace finished the nine-round Swiss system tournament with 8.0 points.
Vincent Balena, who led in the early part of the tournament, finished with 7.5 points to settle for second place. Felix Shaun Balbona also had 7.5 points but he dropped to third because of a lower tie-break score.
With the win, Sevillano, who placed second in the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Age Group Chess Championships last June, will be making it back to the national championships.
In the kiddies division, Vic Glyzen Derotas defended her title while Valerie Mangubat finished second and Adrian De Luna rounded off the top three.