By Jean Malanum

MANILA – Filipino Nika Juris Nicolas finished second overall at the Prague Open 23rd International Chess Festival in Czech Republic on Friday.
The 12-year-old from Pasig City had six wins, two draws and one loss in the tournament for players with 2000 FIDE rating and below.
Nicolas tied for No. 2 with Adreas Schindele of Germany, Frantisek Korenek and Petr Hrebicek of Czech Republic, and Giorgi Bekauri of Georgia with seven points each, but won in the tiebreak.
Spyridon Ilandzis of Greece scored 7.5 to pocket the title.
Nicolas prevailed over Jian A Lee of South Korea (unrated) in the first round, Hrebicek (1820) in the second round, Andre Jaeger of Germany (1902) in the third, Tomas Pisar of Czech Republic (1924) in the fifth, Romans Tolmacevs of Latvia (1911) in the sixth, and Sebastian Lehner-Dittenberger of Austria (1779) in the seventh.
The Grade 7 student at Victory Christian International School in Pasig City settled for a draw with Schindele (1911) in the fourth round and Korenek (1932) in the ninth round. She lost to Ilandzis (1950) in the eighth.
Nicolas was also named best female player and got first place in the 1600-1699 rating category.
“We are very happy with the results. Her match against Spyridon Ilandzis of Greece was crucial. Overall, she had a good performance,” Nicolas’ mother, Nikki de Vega, said on Saturday.
Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna, one of Nicolas’ trainers along with GM Jayson Gonzales, is proud of her student.
“Nika is the most hardworking, and determined student I ever handled. She truly deserves these awards,” Frayna said.
Nicolas also won the 35th International Chess Festival in Krakow, Poland two weeks ago.
She is set to compete at the Marienbad Open, also in Czech Repuplic, next week. (PNA)