Young FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri stunned Grandmaster Banjo Barcenilla, GM Mark Paragua and the rest of the stacked field to emerge victorious in the GM and Attorney Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. online bullet chess online tournament held via Lichess.org on Monday, March 1.
The 15-year-old Nouri, who was named after Russian-French world champion Alexander Alekhine, amassed 144 points in 65 games to win the 585-strong tourney held as part of the 108th birthday celebration of the late Rosendo Padilla Balinas Sr.
Nouri, who became the youngest FM in the world at the age of seven back in 2013, came through with a whopping 63 percent win rate and performance rating of 2698.
The chess wunderkind from Escalante City, Negros Occidental fondly called as "BBking" won 29 games, drew 18 and lost only four to bag the P10,000 top purse.
“I just try to make the most out of my opportunities and I’m thankful for all the blessings,” said Nouri, whose local and international online chess campaign is backed by Senator Manny Pacquiao, CAPEX Cargo Padala Express CEO/president Engr. Vergil J. Bargola and Ex-PBA player Zaldy Realubit.
Nouri outscored former two-time Asian Junior champion Barcenilla, who finished second with 134 points on a 71 percent win rate and performance rating of 2775 in 62 games for the P5,000 prize.
Candidate Master Chester Neil Reyes got P3,000 for landing on third place with 126 points, ahead of International Masters Michael Concio Jr. and Jan Emmanuel Garcia.
The star-studded event was also participated by GM Paragua, FM Sander Severino, the reigning IPCA World Online Chess Rapid Championship champion, and IM Daniel Quizon, who all wound up between the 6th-15th places.
The online tilt used a time control of one minute play to finish and players must win as many games in two hours, according to US-based frontliner Dr. Joe Balinas and Engr. Antonio "Uncle Paps" Balinas, both founding Honorary Chairman of the event organizer Bayanihan Chess Club.
Presented by Lichess Battle Arena, the event was sponsored by the family of GM Rosendo Balinas in cooperation with Fernan Donguines of Hybreed Apparel Collections and Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.