Nouri rapid championship in Asian Juniors

MANILA, Philippines — Alekhine Nouri gave the Philippines something to be proud of after he topped the rapid event of the Asian Juniors Chess Championships at the Citrus Hotel in Waskaduwa, Sri Lanka lst Thursday.

The 19-year-old FIDE Master and two-time national juniors champion demolished Indian International Master Kashish Manoj Jain in the seventh and last round to snare the gold.

Nouri, who was named after former world champion Alexander Alekhine, finished undefeated with 6.5 points on six victories and a draw and should be the player to watch out for in the blitz section that opened yesterday.

The UAAP blitz MVP from University of Santo Tomas, whose campaign was bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission through commissioner Ed Hayco, is also eyeing a GM norm in the premier standard category unfurling today.

Making it a double triumph for the country was John Jerish Velarde, who bagged the bronze following a shock win over No. 2 pick IM S Aswath of India.