Filipina Chess Prodigy Nicolas Wins Bronze in Budapest Tournament

Sports | Chess Posted on 2025-09-18 20:31:54

MANILA – National Master (NM) Nika Juris Nicolas of Pasig City clinched the bronze medal in the Six Days Budapest Under-2250 chess tournament held in Hungary from Sept. 12 to 17.

Nicolas, the youngest participant and seventh seed in the seven-player round robin, tallied 4.5 points from four wins, two losses, and one draw. She scored victories over Bora Yagiz of Turkey, Andras Bacsi and Tamas Titusz Torok of Hungary, and Viktoria Kuehn of Germany.

Her only setbacks came against FIDE Masters Donat Daroczi and Miklos Halak of Hungary, while she split the point with Michael Yip of Canada. Halak captured the gold with six points, while Daroczi settled for silver with 5.5 points.

“3rd Place! Congratulations Baby Nika for the bronze finish… Despite being the 7th seed and youngest player, you endured and secured a podium finish. More importantly, you gained 65 rating points!” wrote her mother, NCFP legal counsel Atty. Nikka De Vega, in a Facebook post.

Nicolas, who became a National Master at just 10 years old in 2023 through the NCFP’s grassroots program, continues to draw recognition for her international feats.

Recently, Rep. Aniela Bianca filed House Resolution No. 229 commending Nicolas, fellow NM Mark Gabriel Usman, and Team Philippines for their medal finishes at the Asian Zone 3.3 Schools Chess Championships in Jakarta last August, where Nicolas topped the girls’ U13 and Usman ruled the U17 Open.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR

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