By Jean Malanum

BRONZE MEDALIST. 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)

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

Nicolas tallied 4.5 points on four wins, two losses and one draw in the seven-player round robin standard tournament.

She beat 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).

Nicolas lost to FM Donat Daroczi of Hungary (Round 1) and FM Miklos Halak of Hungary (Round 3), and split the point with Michael Yip of Canada (Round 5).

Halak of Hungary scored six points to secure the gold medal while Daroczi settled for the silver medal with 5.5 points.

“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 Nika’s mother, National Chess Federation of the Philippines legal counsel lawyer Nikka De Vega on her Facebook account on Thursday.

Nika Juris, who earned the National Master when she was 10 years old in 2023, is a product 0f the NCFP’s grassroots development program.

Meanwhile, Rep. Aniela Bianca filed House Resolution No. 229 recognizing the achievements of Nika Juris and NM Mark Gabriel Usman, and the rest of Team Philippines, in the Asian Zone 3.3 Schools Chess Championships held on Aug. 27 to 31 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Nicolas topped the girls’ U13 while Usman ruled the U17 Open event. (PNA)