Pinoy kid wins gold in Malaysia chess

A YOUNG Filipino woodpusher on Tuesday emerged as one of the individual champions in the tough Swesen Age Group 2013 dubbed as the 10th Malaysian Chess Festival 2013 at the five-star Mid Valley Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Seven-year-old Alekhine Nouri of Taguig City, a grade one pupil at the FEU-FERN College in Quezon City, won his first five matches then drew with Aayush Pinakin Barot of India in the final round to finish with 5.5 points in six outings to grab the title in the 8-under category.

Actually Nouri and Ryan Lee of Malaysia, both tallied 5.5 points but the Filipino was awarded the gold medal with a better tiebreak score of 24.5 points against the latter’s 22.0 points.

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

“This proved once again that Filipinos can be at par with the world’s best athletes. With ample training and preparation, we can even become world champions,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.

Last June, the Escalante City, Negros Occidental native won an outright Fide Master title by virtue of his excellent showing in the 14th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2013 Standard competition at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

That feat made Nouri as the current world’s youngest Fide Master at the age of 7.

Meanwhile, Grandmaster Darwin Laylo defeated countryman Franz Barretto to gain a share of 5th place in the huge group of 4.5 points that includes compatriots GM John Paul Gomez and FM Roderick Nava in the Open section.