Teenage FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri went undefeated to capture the Wilfredo Neri Memorial Cup title last weekend in a strong field that included Grandmaster Mark Paragua.
Nouri, 14, finished with 14 points on 13 victories and two draws out of the possible 15 to rule the tournament done in memory of international arbiter Wilfredo Neri, who passed away recently.
Nouri, who has now transferred to University of Santo Tomas from Far Eastern University, won his last five games including a victory over International Master Ricky de Guzman to quash the top-seeded Paragua’s last-ditch effort in snatching the crown.
Paragua, the country’s reigning bullet king and top board player, also ended up unbeaten but he had more draws (three) against 12 triumphs to finish second with 13.5 points.
Merben Roque was third with 11 points.
Nouri relied on a strong start where he strung together seven straight victories before splitting the point with Paragua in the eighth round.
Nursing a half point lead over Paragua entering the last seven rounds, Nouri mustered all his strength to match the former’s 6.5 points in preserving one of his biggest online wins to date.