FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri and Ruelle Canino dispatched their respective foes to close in on the titles in their divisions in the National Juniors Chess Championships at the PACE center in Quezon City Tuesday.
Nouri, 15, smashed Christian Olaybal and Johnmari Joseph Lu to pace the boys’ side with six points after seven rounds, while Canino, 13, downed Bea Mendoza to stay atop the girls’ section with seven points after the eighth and penultimate round.
Both Nouri and Canino took the lead after watching their erstwhile co-leaders—Adrian Othniel Yulo and Mhage Sebastian—held to draws by Ronald Canino and Vic Glysen Derotas, respectively.
Yulo has 5.5 points while Sebastian 6.5 in this event supported by NCFP president Butch Pichay, PSC chairman Butch Ramirez, POC president Bambol Tolentino and Chess Movement, Inc. chairman Dr. Ariel Potot.
Nouri could clinch the title if he could score 1.5 points in his last two games against Canino, elder brother of Ruelle Canino, and Rilloroza in the last two rounds.
Canino, for her part, would just have to draw her game against Derotas, the reigning ladies juniors champion, in the last round to emerge the winner.