by Marlon Bernardino
FILIPINO Fide Master Alekhine Fabiosa Nouri pocketed the top honors in the Under-16 class of the blitz event of the 19th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championship held at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City, Philippines on Wednesday.

The 12-year-old Grade Five Far Eastern University Diliman student collected 7.5 points on seven wins, one draw and a loss to win the nine-round tournament, a brainchild of Fide Master Ignatius Leong, has been one of the Asia's leading organizers for more than 20 years and is a professional chess organizer in Singapore.

Alekhine scored victories over Jude Nathaniel Enoc in the first round, Christian Marcelo Olaybal in the second round, Fide Master Stephen Rome Pangilinan in the third round, Fide Master Ngo Duc Tri of Vietnam in the fourth round, Ronald Canino in the fifth round, Candidate Master Nguyen Lam Tung of Vietnam in the seventh round and Pham Phu Quang of Vietnam in the eight round.

He split the point with Gal Brien Palasigue in the sixth round and was yielded to International Master Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam in the ninth and final round.

Stephen Rome placed second overall with 7 points, the same output of third placer Ngo Doc Tri.

Alekhine, Stephen Rome and Gal Brien (6 points) also took the gold in team event with a total output of 20.5 points.

IM Nguyen Anh Khoi, FM Ngo Duc Tri and CM Nguyen Lam Tung won the silver team with 20 points.

Alekhine finished his campaign with three gold (standard team event, blitz individual and team event) and one silver medal (rapid team event).

Alekhine named after Russian World Chess Champion Alexander Alekhine became youngest FIDE (World Chess Federation) Master at the age of 7. He learns the rudiment of chess at the age of five, his father International Master Hamed Nouri quit his job and acted as his own coach to give his son's chess career with full attention. (Marlon Bernardino)