Alekhine Nouri outlasted countryman Michael Concio Jr. in the ninth and final round to clinch a third-place finish and earn the International Master title in the 7th ASEAN+ Individual Chess Championships at the AMORAP in Misamis Occidental on Sunday night.
The 20-year-old Far Eastern University standout from Escalante, Negros Occidental defeated Concio in 72 moves of their Caro-Kann duel, finishing in a six-way tie for third place with six points. Nouri emerged with the best tiebreak score to secure the podium finish and the coveted IM title.
“Grandmaster title naman next,” said Nouri, whose father, IM Hamed Nouri, named him after Russian chess legend and former world champion Alexander Alekhine.
The tournament was financed by host Gov. Henry Oaminal Sr. and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and WR Chess.
Indian Shrivatri Anuj defeated Australian IM James Morris in 33 moves of an English Opening to claim the championship and the Grandmaster title with seven points. Vietnamese GM Nguyen Doc Hua settled for second place with 6.5 points after drawing Indonesian IM Satria Duta Cahaya in 56 moves of a Sicilian Defense.
Anuj became the second Indian to rule the tournament, following VS Raahul, who claimed the title last year and subsequently earned his GM title.
The Philippines could have celebrated a double podium finish had Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza and WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego pulled off victories in the final round.
Mendoza appeared poised to deliver one when she gained a strong positional advantage, including an extra queenside pawn. However, she failed to convert the advantage and eventually bowed to eventual champion Shafira Devi Herfesa of Indonesia in 49 moves of a Ruy Lopez.
Herfesa dominated the women’s division with eight points, finishing 1.5 points ahead of Indian WIM Bordoloi Pratitee to secure the title and the Woman Grandmaster norm.
Vietnamese GM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung finished third with six points.
San Diego, who occupied the top boards for most of the tournament, also fell short of a podium finish after losing to last year’s champion, Russian IM Evgenija Ovod, in 47 moves of a Sicilian Defense.
Despite the setback, San Diego emerged as the highest-ranked Filipina, finishing fifth with 5.5 points. WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WFM Jemaicah Yap Mendoza, and Shania Mae Mendoza placed eighth, ninth, and 10th, respectively.
