LOS ANGELES?Filipino grandmaster Rogelio ?Joey? Antonio Jr. has regained his winning form.

The 47-year-old Antonio, who became the country?s third GM after Eugene Torre and the late Rosendo Balinas, brought his A-grade game to the chess board of the 2008 Los Angeles Chess Club Open Championships at the Santa Monica Boulevard here.

After settling for a draw in his opening match with Jeremy Stein, the former University of Manila standout racked four victories in a row to emerge as the champion in this tournament organized by USCF Life senior master and chess instructor Mick Bighamian.

Antonio bested Ronald Morris, international master Emory Tate, William Pennucci and Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. Tate placed second by beating US master Julian Landaw in the final round for a five-round aggregate of four points.

Adjudged category winners were Pennucci (Top Under 2200) and Arnel Odero (Top Under 2000).

It was the eighth title in US soil for Antonio. He also won the 10th Annual Joseph Lleto Memorial Open Chess Championship in Montery Park, Motor City Open at the Universal Chess Club in Auburn Hills, Michigan, 17th North American Fide Invitational at the Skokie, Illinois, Los Angeles Open, 8th Universal Annual Swiss Chess Open, Michigan and the G/19 event.

It would have been his ninth title had Antonio won the tough 2008 North American Open Chess Championships last Dec. 29 at the Bally?s Casino Resort and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Antonio failed to convert the winning position against fellow GM Yury Shulman in the penultimate round.

Shulman, a member of the US Olympic Chess team, and who bagged the bronze medal during the last Dresden World Chess Olympiad, made the most out of his remaining disadvantageous pieces. Antonio had four pawns and a rook, while Shulman had a knight and a rook in the end game. Antonio also bowed to GM Jaan Ehlvest in the final round.