Nicolas Checa is an American chess player who earned the prestigious title of Grandmaster in 2019. He was born on June 13, 2001 in New York, and began playing chess at the young age of five. He gradually improved his skills, earning his first National Master title at 10 years old, and the International Master title at 13. At the World Youth Chess Championships in 2014, he finished second.
Checa's exceptional performance in the 2018 U.S. Junior Championship was a turning point in his career. He finished tied for first, earning him an invitation to the 2019 U.S. Championship, which is an exclusive tournament typically reserved for the top 12 U.S. players. His results in this tournament contributed to his earning of the Grandmaster title in August 2019.