The dream will have to wait: a dignified defeat for Lloret in the final playoff round against Arenys de Munt

Lloret Chess Club's first team could not achieve promotion to Segunda Catalana after falling 4-6 to a solid Arenys de Munt in the second and final play-off round.

The match was demanding from the start, against an opponent with a very strong lineup. Even so, the Lloret players competed until the end and had real chances at different points in the match.

The day began with a well-deserved draw by repetition from Manel Castellanos, with black pieces on the second board, against an opponent with a higher Elo rating. This was just a preview of what was to come. From that moment on, silence took over the room and gave way to a long and intense battle, in which all games lasted over three hours.

Ultimately, the result was not enough, and Arenys secured two additional victories that allowed them to ensure their permanence. Lloret's victories came from Biel Castellanos and Georgi Stoykov, while Toni David, Nacho Gil, Lev Shustov, and Manel Castellanos himself drew. The final 4-6 score reflects both the equality on several boards and the difficulty of facing a solid team in all its positions.

Despite the defeat, Club d'Escacs Lloret concludes a great season, having achieved the runner-up position in the Preferente Gironina and reached the promotion play-off final, demonstrating its ability to compete against higher-ranked teams.

The team has shown character, fighting spirit, and a high competitive level. Having demonstrated that promotion to Segunda Catalana is no longer a distant objective but an achievable goal, the club faces the upcoming seasons with the ambition to continue striving for it.