NM Nika ties with 5 others in Marienbad Open 2025 - C FIDE Open 23rd International Chess Festival
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 27 Jan 2025
NIKA Juris Nicolas, the country's first and only female National Master (NM) finished in a six-way tie for fifth to tenth places at the close of the Marienbad Open 2025 - C FIDE Open 23rd International Chess Festival at the Continental hotel in Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic Saturday, January 25, 2025.
The Pasig City resident NM Nika (elo 1657) had 6.0 points to forge a tie with FM Ondrej Matras of Czech Republic (elo 2092), Dustin Kuipers of Germany (elo 2086), Tomasz Bajer of Poland (elo 1823), Karel Bourban of Switzerland (elo 1797), and Milan Chmielek of Poland (elo 1803).
However, after the tie break points were applied, NM Nika landed at 10th overall. NM Nika had four wins, four draws and one loss. She also gained 175 elo rating points in this tournament.
Vasiko Shapovalov of Georgia (elo 2078) took the title with 7.5 points in nine outings.
Jakob Engelmann of Germany (elo 2163) and Patrik Pycha of Czech Republic (elo 2050) occupied the second to third spots with 7.0 points each while Ulf Gohla of Germany (elo 2088) placed fourth with 6.5 points.
"Another Czechmate! Baby Nika was awarded Best Woman Player, Best Player in the 1600-1699 Rating Category and 10th Place Overall (tied for 5th-10th) in the Marienbad Open 2025 (all rating) held on January 18 - 25, 2025 at Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic! She had a total of 4 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss. She also gained 175 elo rating points in this tournament. This marks the end of our 32-day sojourn in Europe. In just 24 days, Baby Nika played 34 standard games spread out in Poland and the Czech Republic. She had 21 wins, 8 draws and 5 losses. She also gained a total of 522 rating points! Thus, her live rating is now 2097," NM Nika mother lawyer Nikki De Vega posted on her facebook account. Atty. De Vega is the legal council of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
NM Nika fell short of 3 elo rating points to secure Woman FIDE Master title. She needed to raise her live elo rating 2097 to 2100 to obtain the WFM title.
Among those who are supporting her chess campaign here and abroad are the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by its chairman/president Prospero Pichay Jr., Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Victory Christian International School in Pasig City, her coaches Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, Woman Grandmaster Janelle Frayna, Franco Camillo, Lourecel Ecot, Raul Damuy, and MJ Ladrona.
The 12 years old NM Nika, a Grade 7 student at Victory Christian International School in Pasig City also won the 35th International Chess Festival last December 29, 2024 at the Galaxy Hotel in Krakow, Poland. NM Nika topped the Open Under 1800 Category with an undefeated record of 6 wins and 1 draw to raise her total 6.5 points in seven outings.
She also finished in second place at the Prague Open 2025 (under 2000 rating) 23rd International Chess Festival. NM Nika had six wins, two draws and one loss was held last January 10-17, 2025.-Marlon Bernardino-
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