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-
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