Pinoy whiz kid rules Malaysian chessfest

MANILA, Philippines - Seven-year-old Alekhine Nouri continued to reap honors abroad, topping his age group in the 10th Malaysian Chess Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recently.

Nouri, the Grade One pupil at FEU-FERN College in QC, swept his first five matches then split the point with Pinakin Barot of India to finish the six-round tournament with 5.5 points.

The Escalante City, Negros Occidental native actually ended up tied with Ryan Lee of Malaysia but took the championship in the 8-under category with a superior tiebreak points, 24.5-22.

Nouri toppled Megat Zaid Megat Mohd Khushair, Alden Goh Kai Ray, Raynell Ng Li Hern, Shreesh Amit Chembeti and Wong Zi Yue of Malaysia.

Last June, he obtained an outright Fide Master title after an excellent showing in the 14th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2013 Standard competition in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

With the feat, he became the world’s youngest Fide Master.

“We would like to congratulate the world’s youngest Fide master Alekhine Nouri for bringing honor to the country. He is proof that the support of NCFP and Bayan Muna to grassroots chess is not only important but effective as well,” said NCFP Grassroots and Development Committee head and Bayan Muna party list Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares.