Nov 9, 2026
Nouri earns IM title after placing 3rd at 7th Asean chessfest
SINACABAN, Misamis Occidental —Thirteen years ago Alekhine Nouri becoming the country's youngest FIDE Master. However, making the next step of earning the International Master (IM) title has eluded the now 20-year-old Nouri.
But on Sunday, at the 7th ASsean Individual Chess Championships at the AMORAP Adventure Park here, Nouri became an instant IM after placing third in the men's open division.
"Nabigla ako. I was only expecting to earn FIDE ratings. My happiness is overwhelming for this feat," Nouri told the Manila Times after securing an outright IM title.
After defeating compatriot IM Michael Concio Jr in the ninth and final round on Sunday night, Nouri found himself tied with five foreign rivals with 6 points.
Luckily, Nouri clinched third place after the tiebreak was applied.
"Hindi pa rin ako maka paniwala. Swerte rin mga highest rated lalo na sa foreigner ang mga naka tunggali ko kaya't pomabor sa atin ang tiebreaker," added Nouri.
On the top board in the final round, IM Shrivatri Anuj of India defeated IM James Morris of Australia (5.5 points) to up his total to 7 points, enough to win the men's title that paved the way for him to become the 100th grandmaster in India.
Shrivatri was the second Indian to claim the direct GM title at stake in the Governor Henry Oaminal-bankrolled tourney after his then IM compatriot V.S. Raahul did it during the 6th ASEAN meet here last year.
Indonesia's Satria Duta Cahaya (5.5 pts) tried to scuttle the strong Vietnamese GM Nguyen Duc Hoa on board 2 tiff but could only settle for a draw after a lengthy struggle.
Cahaya's female counterpart WIM Shafira Devi Herfesa could not be denied, however, of the crowning glory as she delivered a monster show in the cash-rich tourney organized by Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo and supervised by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by GM Jayson Gonzales and International Arbiter Reden Cruz.
Already obtaining the women's throne and the Woman Grandmaster title via an untouchable 7-point output with a round to spare, the 18-year-old Indon sensation never tested as she remains on fire in her final round battle.
Playing black against Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza of the host country, Herfesa looked like in the receiving end in the opening phase but her resourcefulness slowly changed the complexion of the game.
In a complicated middle game, Herfesa found a way to build momentum with her more active pieces that led to a blazing assault and Mendoza's resignation in the face of an inevitable mating net.
Early leader WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego of the Philippines (5.5 pts) lost steam in the final half of the nine-round hostilities, and yielded in the final round against the Russian IM and last year's ruler Evgenija Ovod of the Federation (5 pts).
WIM Ruelle Canino, 18, from Cagayan de Oro City, who finished second here last year, also fell in her final round bout with fellow 5-pointer Woman Grandmaster Nguyen Thi Mai Hung of Vietnam.
The top10 players in the men's are IM Shrivatri of India (7 pts), GM Duc Hoa (6.5 pts), FM Nouri (6 pts) , IM Viani (6 pts), IM Nguyen Quoc Hy (6 pts) IM Cahaya (6 pts), IM Ameya Audi of India (6 pts), IM Parang Ritviz of India (6 pts), IM Bala Chandra Prasad Dhulipalla of India (5.5 pts) and IM Morris (5.5 pts).
In the women's section are WIM Herfesa, WIM Bordoloi Pratitee, WGM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung, IM Ovod, WIM San Diego, WFM Shree Reddy Keerti, WIM Nguyen Hong Anh, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and WFM Jemaicah Yap Mendoza.
