The trophy shelves at the home of Goa’s 14-year-old chess prodigy, Ethan Vaz, are quickly run ning out of space. He has just added six more medals to his growing collection at the 27th Asian Youth Chess Championships 2025 in Bangkok. In a striking show of ambition, Ethan opted to compete in the Under-16 (Sub-Junior) category, de spite still being eligible for the Under-14 group. “I am very happy to have won six more Asian med als, that too while challeng ing myself in the Under-16 category,” Ethan says with calm confidence. “Earlier in 2022, I had also won six Asian medals while playing in the Under-12 category in Bali. It’s always a pleasure to bring home medals for the country. This year I’ve won 11 international medals, and in total, 27 for India so far.” Constantly evolving as a player, Ethan believes his biggest strength lies in adaptability. “I feel I’ve become a more univer sal player, able to adapt to different types of posi tions and maintain a good balance between tactical and positional play,” he ex plains. Despite his success, he remains grounded. “It’s a long journey ahead, and I believe there is a lot more to learn on the road to be coming a GM and rising higher in world rankings.” His aim for the coming year is crystal clear: “I want to become a Grandmaster as soon as possible. That will be my main goal for 2026. I also want to win more med als for India.” Behind Ethan stands his father, Edwin Vaz, who has been a steady source of support. He sees promising growth for chess in Goa. “More and more youngsters are taking up chess. The Goa Chess Association has a strong team and a good organisational structure across all talukas,” he says.
“The recent success of the FIDE World Cup in Goa show cased GCA’s capabilities,” Edwin Vaz added. He also notes the need for more sponsorship and timely recognition for young achievers. But success comes with its own challenges. “Given his talent, it may not be too difficult for Ethan to achieve the Grandmaster title,” Edwin says. “What is difficult is giving him enough opportunities. Overseas tournaments and top-notch coaching are extremely expensive and require much more financial support.” Securing sponsorship, he admits, is not easy. “The fact that chess is not a full-fledged spectator sport may be add ing to the reluctance to support it in a big way.” Still, he remains optimistic. “Every cloud has a silver lining. We are hopeful more sponsorship will come as Ethan gears up to achieve the Grandmaster title.” Goa Chess Association Secretary and accomplished play er AsheshKeni is full of praise for the youngster. “Ethan, incredibly talented and hard-working, breaking the 2500 barrier at such a young age, is poised to grab the Grand master title. His consistency and determination against many odds will push him like a shooting star to the world’s best.” With 27 international medals, a 2500-plus rating and unwavering commitment, Ethan Vaz stands on the brink of becoming one of India’s brightest chess talents. As he steps into 2026 with the Grandmaster title in his sights, Goa watches with pride, knowing a future world contend er is rising in their midst.
