After impressive performances in two international events, Negrense Hamed Nouri only needs 12 more games to be declared by the international chess federation as an International Master.

Nouri, who hails from Escalante City, was recently declared as a Fide Master after finishing eighth in the Vietnam Zonal Chess Championships with 5.5 match points. Jesse Sanchez of the Negros Chess Players Federation Inc. yesterday said that Nouri already achieved his IM norm but still needs to register respectable results in his next 12 games to confirm his status.

The 28-year-old Nouri posted two wins and seven draws in Vietnam after becoming the only Filipino finishing in the Top 10 of the 1st President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Cup International Open and Chess Challenge in November.

Nouri, who is being supported by the JRR Dizon Foundation and the Escalante local government headed by Mayor Santiago Barcelona, collected 8 match points in the tournament that was competed in by IMs and Grand Masters from all over the world. *CIT

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