PH chess wizard Nika Juris Nicolas makes history, wins double gold in international chess tournament
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 28 Jul 2024
Manila---A young Filipino chess player has taken the top spot in her age group after clinching victory at the Chinese Taipei Chess Association International Open Tournament 2024 Open Standard and Open Blitz Championships held from July 22 to 27 in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
PH chess genius Nika Juris Nicolas, a National Master, won two gold medals and trophies from the contest.
The 11-year-old student of Victory Christian International School topped the under 13 Standard Open and overall champion in the merged U13, U15, G13, and G15 categories.
She has a total output of 7.0 points on account of 6 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss.
NM Nicolas defeated Min-Hao Lin of Chinese-Taipei in the first round, Shao-Yen Hung of Chinese-Taipei in the second round, Enzo Wang of Canada in the fourth round, Hao-Xuan Huang of Chinese-Taipei in the fifth round, Yu-En Yen of Chinese-Taipei in the seventh round, and Yu Chen Cheng of Chinese-Taipei in the ninth and final round.
She split the points with AFM Hao Chen Yung of Chinese-Taipei in the sixth round and Yu-Chi Xavier Wang of Chinese-Taipei in the eight round.
She lost to Rainen Yi-Fan Simpson of Chinese-Taipei in the third round.
In the Open blitz competition, the chess wizard from Pasig City won the Under-13 class and and 3rd overall in the merged Open, U19, U17, U15, U11, U9, U7, G19, G17, G15, G11, G9, and G7).
NM Nicolas tallied 7 wins and 2 losses.
She defeated Adrian Tung Jan of Chinese-Taipei (Round 1), Hung-Chuan Chiu of Chinese-Taipei (Round 2), Cheng-Yan Yang of Chinese-Taipei (Round 3), Chen- Hao Wu of Chinese-Taipei (Round 4), Nok Hang Jonathan Ho of Hongkong (Round 5), Lourecel Hernandez Ecot of the Philippines (Round 7), and Howard Sun of the United States (Round 8).
Her losses to International Master Adelard Bai of Chinese-Taipei (Round 6) and International Master Raymond Kaufman of Canada (Round 9).
“Again I would like to dedicate my victory to my countrymen. It’s an honor to represent our country,” said the amiable NM Nicolas.
With the victory, NM Nicolas’s performance boosted the nation’s morale.
"We're very proud of what she has accomplished and I think she's representative of the quality of the younger generation," said proud mother lawyer Nikki de Vega, who is also the Legal Adviser of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by chairman/ president Prospero "Butch" Arreza Pichay Jr.
"The Philippine's only female National Master is also making waves abroad by playing in the open division and has emerged as double champion. She is also the only girl in the international tournament who has secured podium finishes there," she added.
NM Nicolas is under the guidance of coaches GM Jayson Gonzales, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, Lourecel Hernandez Ecot and Raul Miguel Damuy.-Marlon Bernardino-
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Warriors Buck Pressures, Whip Lakers, 123-116
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 04 Apr 2025May 4: Rohan Polanco-Fabian Maidana Welterweight Showdown & The Return of Emiliano Fernando Vargas Added to Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas ESPN+-Streamed Undercard at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Press Conference Notes: Richard Torrez Jr. and Guido Vianello Ready to Trade Leather in Las Vegas Heavyweight Headliner
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Avoided Kingsley Ibeh Demands his Seat at The Heavyweight Table
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Team USA Advances Two More Boxers to Medal Rounds at World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect Alex Bray Signs Promotional Agreement with Boxlab Promotions
Fri, 04 Apr 2025PRE-SALE TICKETS FOR THE 2025 US OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP AVAILABLE FROM 14 APRIL
Fri, 04 Apr 2025PSME Abu Dhabi overall champion in the PTC-WED in UAE
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 04 Apr 2025The Hard Road of Young Nationalista
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 03 Apr 20255 Pinoy boxers to fight in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 03 Apr 2025Transatlantic Clash II - "Battle at the Bridge"
Thu, 03 Apr 2025Marco “El Tiburón” Romero moving up to scheduled 6-round bout next
Thu, 03 Apr 2025Filipino chess phenom wins at Spring Blitz Chess Championship in Dubai
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 03 Apr 2025Team USA Advances Two More Boxers to Medal Rounds at World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
Thu, 03 Apr 2025IM Bagamasbad eyes GM title in Australian Chess Circuit
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 03 Apr 2025