MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The title of National Master was given to a female player named Nika Juris for the first time in Philippine chess history.
Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, chief executive officer of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, confirmed on social media on Saturday that the NCFP has given the title of National Master to a 10-year-old girl Nika Juris from Pasig City.
With the sport usually dominated by males, most of the title holders of National Master’s are held by males. With the female counterpart, the Woman National Master title is given to female chess players who dominate on the other side of the competition.
Juris competes in the boys’ and open divisions and mostly prevails against her opponents.
Juris was the only female who competed in the under-11 boys division when she topped the national eliminations for the 2023 NCFP National Youth and Schools Chess Championships held in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, from March 24 to 27.
With Juris breaking gender norms in the chess scene, the NCFP awarded her the title of National Master.
Juris is seen as the brightest future of Philippine chess.
The 1st Professional Chess Association of the Philippines National Interschool Championship is scheduled for the next month, and she will compete in it. Along with National Master Antonella Berthe Racasa, Gabriel Ryan Paradero, Andrew Toledo, and Aron Toledo, she will compete for the VCIS-Homeschool Global Chess Team. Robert Racasa is the team’s coach.
Her parents, Nikki and Krisanto, are proud of their daughter’s achievements and thrilled about what she can accomplish in the future.– WhatALife!/Zain
Also read: Bince Operiano, chess prodigy from Albay, wins gold in Thailand
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