Filipino National Master Nika Juris Nicolas (left) with Viktoria Kuehn of Germany before the start of their Round 7 match in the Six Days Budapest Under 2250 category chess tournament in Hungary on Wednesday (Sept. 17, 2025). Nicolas bagged the bronze medal in the competition. (Contributed photo)
National Master Nika Juris Nicolas of Pasig City captured the bronze medal in the Six Days Budapest Under-2250 category chess tournament held from September 12 to 17 in Hungary.
The 11-year-old Nicolas tallied 4.5 points from four wins, two losses, and one draw in the seven-player round-robin standard competition. She prevailed over Bora Yagiz of Turkey (Round 2), Andras Bacsi of Hungary (Round 4), Tamas Titusz Torok of Hungary (Round 6), and Viktoria Kuehn of Germany (Round 7). She dropped matches to FM Donat Daroczi (Round 1) and FM Miklos Halak (Round 3) of Hungary, and split the point with Michael Yip of Canada (Round 5).
Halak topped the tournament with 6.0 points to claim the gold, while Daroczi finished with 5.5 points for the silver.
“3rd Place! Congratulations Baby Nika for the bronze finish in the Six Days Budapest Sept 2025 Under 2250! Despite being the 7th seed and youngest player therein, you endured and even secured a podium finish. More importantly, you gained 65 rating points!” posted her mother, Atty. Nikka De Vega, legal counsel of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), on Facebook.
Nika Juris, who became a National Master at just 10 years old in 2023, is a standout product of the NCFP’s grassroots development program.
Meanwhile, Rep. Aniela Bianca has filed House Resolution No. 229 commending the achievements of Nicolas and fellow National Master Mark Gabriel Usman, as well as the rest of Team Philippines, in the Asian Zone 3.3 Schools Chess Championships held from August 27 to 31 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Nicolas ruled the girls’ U13 division while Usman topped the U17 Open category.
