By MARK REY MONTEJO

Filipino-American Francis Ordanza won first place in the International Youth Championship Category 9-under Premier category in the Las Vegas International Chess Festival recently.

(Left) Francis Ordanza. (Las Vegas International Chess Festival's Facebook post)

The 9-year-old Ordanza emerged on top of the 30-player field in the 9-under division after listing five points and ahead of Maria Laboeuf and Andrew Chang.

The wonder kid from San Diego also bagged the 9-under team title with Hiro Uchiyama and Arjun Amit.

Last week, Nika Juris Nicolas also made heads turn as she became the only female chess player to be conferred with the National Master title.

Nicolas, 10, is now vying in the ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, which started last Saturday, June 17.