OZAMIZ — Philippine junior champion FM Alekhine Nouri continued his rise in the local chess hierarchy by ruling the Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry S. Oaminal “Battle of Champions” held at the Ozamiz City gymnasium here late Saturday.

Nouri, who rose to prominence by becoming the country’s youngest FIDE Master at age seven in June 2013, finished with 6.5 points on five wins, three draws and one loss in the 10-player tournament held in this beautiful Mindanao city noted for the centuries-old Fuerte de la Concepcion del Triunfo and the Mount Malindang Nature Park.

The 17-year-old pride of Escalante, Negros Occidental edged Joel Pimentel and Richelieu Salcedo for the title and the top prize of P40,000 put up by Gov. Oaminal and Ozamiz City Mayor Indy Oaminal through the Asenso Misamis Occidental Chess Association.

“I’m very happy to win this Battle of Champions. Lahat ng mga kalaban ko dito magagaling at malalakas din,” said Nouri, who was named after former world chess champion Alexander Alekhine of Russia,

The University of Santo Tomas student won over FM Ellan Asuela in the first round, Pimentel in the second round, GM Darwin Laylo in the third round, IM Ronald Bancod in the fifth round, and IM Kim Steven Yap in the eighth round.

He split the point with GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. in the fourth round, Salcedo in the sixth round and IM Roderick Nava in the ninth and final round.

His lone defeat came at the hands of IM Rolando Nolte in the seventh round.

Pimentel, who topped the Asenso Misamis Occidental National Open chess tournament held at the Aya Hotel and Residences in Clarin, Misamis Occidental last July, defeated Laylo in the ninth and final round to finish in a two-way tie with Salcedo for second and third places.

Salcedo, who ruled the Gov. Oaminal blitz chess competition last Friday, outclased Yap to catch up with Pimentel.

In fourth to fifth places wre Asuela and Antonio with 5.5 points.

Asuela upset Antonio in the final round Nolte finished sixth with five points.

Rounding out the finishers wer Laylo, seventh with four points; Yap and Nava, eighth and ninth with three points: and Bancod, 10th with only one point.

AMOFCA president and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) director Rey Urbiztondo said Nouri and the rest of the participants will receive their cash prizes along with the winners of the other categories in the Gov. Oaminal 8-in-1 Chess Festival.

The event is being .held as part of the 94th anniversary celebrations of Misamis Occidental.

James Infiesto was the chief arbiter, assisted by Michael Joseph Pagaran and Kevin Yap.

Final standings:

6.5 points — H. Nouri
6 — J. Pimentel, R. Salcedo
5.5 — E. Asuela, R. Antonio
4.5 — R. Nolte
4 — D. Laylo
3 — K. Yap, R. Nava
1 — R. Bancod