World youngest Fide Master to compete in HK Open

FOLLOWING his magnificent performance in the 10th Malaysian Chess Festival 2013 last month by winning the coveted gold medal, the world’s youngest Fide Master Alekhine Nouri was chosen to represent the country in the Hongkong International Open Chess Championships.

The tournament is an elite event in the Fide calendar and will be held at the University of Hongkong from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.

The 7-year-old Nouri won an outright FM title by virtue of his excellent showing at this year’s 14th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2013 Standard competition in Chiang Mai, Thailand last June where he earned his Fide Master title.

“It’s my dream to reach super GM status and be a world champion,” said Alekhine, who accounted for four of the 24 gold medals the Philippines won in Chiang Mai.

His father, Fide Master Hamed Nouri, named him after the great world champion Alexander Alekhine, considered as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Alekhine is a grade one pupil at the FEU-FERN College in Quezon City and a native of Escalante City, Negros Occidental. he is currently based in Taguig City. /Correspondent Marlon Bernardino