A young Filipino chess player has made history by winning double gold at the Chinese Taipei Chess Association International Open Tournament 2024 held recently in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Nika Juris Nicolas, a National Master and an 11-year-old student of Victory Christian International School, emerged victorious in both the Open Standard and Open Blitz Championships. She claimed two gold medals and trophies, cementing her status as a top competitor in her age group.
Nicolas dominated the under-13 Standard Open category and emerged as the overall champion in the merged U13, U15, G13, and G15 categories. She scored a total of 7.0 points, with 6 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss. Her victories included matches against Min-Hao Lin, Shao-Yen Hung, Enzo Wang, Hao-Xuan Huang, Yu-En Yen, and Yu Chen Cheng. She drew with AFM Hao Chen Yung and Yu-Chi Xavier Wang and lost only to Rainen Yi-Fan Simpson.
In the Open Blitz competition, Nicolas won the Under-13 class and placed 3rd overall in the merged categories (Open, U19, U17, U15, U11, U9, U7, G19, G17, G15, G11, G9, and G7). She recorded 7 wins and 2 losses, defeating Adrian Tung Jan, Hung-Chuan Chiu, Cheng-Yan Yang, Chen-Hao Wu, Nok Hang Jonathan Ho, Lourecel Hernandez Ecot, and Howard Sun. Her only losses were to International Masters Adelard Bai and Raymond Kaufman.
“Again, I would like to dedicate my victory to my countrymen. It’s an honor to represent our country,” said the amiable Nicolas.
Her achievements have significantly 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 her mother, lawyer Nikki de Vega, who also serves as the Legal Adviser of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, led by Chairman and President Prospero “Butch” Arreza Pichay Jr.
“The Philippines’ only female National Master is making waves abroad by playing in the open division and emerging as a double champion. She is also the only girl in the international tournament to secure podium finishes,” added De Vega.
Nicolas trains under the guidance of coaches GM Jayson Gonzales, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, Lourecel Hernandez Ecot, and Raul Miguel Damuy.
