MANILA: The Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) will hold a blitz and rapid tournament for promising players at its headquarters in Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City on March 30 to 31. Players with Elo ratings 1899 and below will see action on March 30, while those 1599 and below will compete on March 31. National Master (NM) Nika Juris Nicolas will lead the campaigners in the National Chess Federation of the Philippines-sanctioned tournament offering cash prizes. "I hope to do well in this event and gain some Elo rating points," said the 12-year-old Nicolas in an interview on Thursday. Nicolas, the country's youngest NM when she earned the title two years ago, is one of Pasig City's top players. Her current Elo ratings are 1579 (standard), 1455 (rapid) and 1596 (blitz). She will represent the country in the World Cadet Rapid and Blitz Championships on April 25-29, 2024 in Durres, Albania. "The event is aimed at developing good thinkers through the understanding of chess strategies and tactics, improving the logical abilities and rational thinking and reasoning of the participants, and instilling a sense of self-confidence, self-worth and camaraderie," National Chess Federation of the Philippines legal counsel Nikki de Vega said. Source: Philippines News Agency