Pinoy whiz kid win gold medal in Malaysia chess meet

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

Seven-Year-old Alekhine Nouri of Taguig City, 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 and rule the 8-under category.

Actually Nouri and Ryan Lee of Malaysia, both tallied 5.5 points, however the former (Nouri) won the gold medal with a better 24.5 tie break points against the latter's (Lee) 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.

With the feat, Nouri is 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. 

The country's campaign in the tournament is supported by former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., 7th district Cavite Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., Bayan Muna Party-List Rep.Neri Javier Colmenares, Atty. Ruel Canobas and GM Jayson Gonzales of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).