PH's only female NM tops chess tournament in Poland
NIKA Juris Nicolas, the country's first and only female National Master (NM), emerged as champion in the 35th International Chess Festival, which ended on Sunday at the Galaxy Hotel in Krakow, Poland. The 12-year-old Nicolas topped the Open Under-1800 category with an undefeated run of six wins and a draw for a total of 6.5 points. The win proved pivotal for Nicolas (Elo 1635), who boosted her FIDE ratings by 86 Elo points with an impressive performance rating of 2017. In the tournament, Nicolas defeated Kacper Miąso of Poland (1400), Mateusz Waszkiewicz of Poland (1402) and Artem Sokolvak of Ukraine (1000) in the first three rounds, respectively. The Grade 7 student of Victory Christian International School in Pasig City then forged a draw with Filip Korda of Poland (1725) in the fourth round before closing the tournament with a string of three victories against Arkadiusz Piwowarczyk of Poland (1779), Nikita Alexeev of Ukraine (1697) and Ali Asgarzada of Azerbaijan (1653), in this order. Nicolas has a knack of joining open tournaments for boys and girls here and abroad. She gained the National Master title after a series of impressive performances in the under-11 boys division which culminated in the 2023 National Youth Chess and Schools Championships Grand Finals in Dapitan City, where she won silver medals in standard and blitz, and bronze in rapid chess. It is customary that the NM title is conferred to male players and the less prestigious Women National Master title to female players, but since Nicolas has been playing in the boys or open divisions, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines has granted her the NM title. Rafal Skalny of Poland and Filip Korda of Poland finished with 5.5 points apiece and respectively placed second and third behind Nicolas. They were followed in the finals standing by Nikita Alexeev of Ukraine, Arkadiusz Piwowarzyk of Poland, Ali Asgarzada of Azerbaijan, Marek Michaliik of Poland, Justyna Rozenska of Poland and Adam Machnik of Poland, who all scored 5.0 points. "Nika is overjoyed because it has always been her dream to compete with the boys," her mother, Nikki de Vega, said. "It was a dream come true for her to get the National Master title and prevail in international tournaments." Nicolas started playing chess seriously at age 9 when she joined her first tournament in February 2022 at the National Age Group Chess Championship. Her mother immediately knew that her daughter was bound for greatness in chess after she finished the tournament with six wins and one loss. Today, Nicolas holds the credential as a candidate FIDE Master. Nicolas will continue her chess campaign in Europe when she competes in the Prague Open on Jan. 10-17, 2025, and the Marienbad Open on Jan. 18-25, 2025, both in the Czech Republic.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
NIKA Juris Nicolas, the country's first and only female National Master (NM), emerged as champion in the 35th International Chess Festival, which ended on Sunday at the Galaxy Hotel in Krakow, Poland.
The 12-year-old Nicolas topped the Open Under-1800 category with an undefeated run of six wins and a draw for a total of 6.5 points.
The win proved pivotal for Nicolas (Elo 1635), who boosted her FIDE ratings by 86 Elo points with an impressive performance rating of 2017.
In the tournament, Nicolas defeated Kacper Miąso of Poland (1400), Mateusz Waszkiewicz of Poland (1402) and Artem Sokolvak of Ukraine (1000) in the first three rounds, respectively.
The Grade 7 student of Victory Christian International School in Pasig City then forged a draw with Filip Korda of Poland (1725) in the fourth round before closing the tournament with a string of three victories against Arkadiusz Piwowarczyk of Poland (1779), Nikita Alexeev of Ukraine (1697) and Ali Asgarzada of Azerbaijan (1653), in this order.
Nicolas has a knack of joining open tournaments for boys and girls here and abroad.
She gained the National Master title after a series of impressive performances in the under-11 boys division which culminated in the 2023 National Youth Chess and Schools Championships Grand Finals in Dapitan City, where she won silver medals in standard and blitz, and bronze in rapid chess.
It is customary that the NM title is conferred to male players and the less prestigious Women National Master title to female players, but since Nicolas has been playing in the boys or open divisions, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines has granted her the NM title.
Rafal Skalny of Poland and Filip Korda of Poland finished with 5.5 points apiece and respectively placed second and third behind Nicolas.
They were followed in the finals standing by Nikita Alexeev of Ukraine, Arkadiusz Piwowarzyk of Poland, Ali Asgarzada of Azerbaijan, Marek Michaliik of Poland, Justyna Rozenska of Poland and Adam Machnik of Poland, who all scored 5.0 points.
"Nika is overjoyed because it has always been her dream to compete with the boys," her mother, Nikki de Vega, said. "It was a dream come true for her to get the National Master title and prevail in international tournaments."
Nicolas started playing chess seriously at age 9 when she joined her first tournament in February 2022 at the National Age Group Chess Championship.
Her mother immediately knew that her daughter was bound for greatness in chess after she finished the tournament with six wins and one loss.
Today, Nicolas holds the credential as a candidate FIDE Master.
Nicolas will continue her chess campaign in Europe when she competes in the Prague Open on Jan. 10-17, 2025, and the Marienbad Open on Jan. 18-25, 2025, both in the Czech Republic.
