Earns a spot to represent India at the Asian and FIDE World Youth Chess Championships
MARGAO
In a feat unprecedented in the history of Goan chess, IM Ethan Vaz clinched the Silver Medal for the State of Goa at the prestigious and highly-competitive National Sub-Junior Open Chess Championship 2024.
Ethan played exemplary chess, scoring 9.5 points in 11 rounds, with 8 wins and 3 draws, to finish Joint 1st at the 49th National Sub-Junior (Under-15) Open Chess Championship 2024 organised under the aegis of Tamil Nadu Chess Association, on behalf of All India Chess Federation, from November 3 to 11, in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
13-year-old Ethan Raia born remained undefeated throughout, in the 11-round swiss system tournament spanning 9 days, which saw a total of 288 of the best players from India representing their respective States.
Owing to his podium finish, Ethan is selected to represent India at Asian Youth Chess Championships 2025 and FIDE World Youth Chess Championship 2025.
At the end of 11 rounds, Ethan (Elo 2370) was tied for 1st Place with the top seed of the tournament, 15-year-old IM Ilamparthi A R (Elo 2457) of Tamil Nadu. The Champion was then decided on Buchholz Cut1 Tie-Break, which is an indirect measure based on the score of each player's opponents, leading to the Gold Medal ultimately eluding Ethan by a whisker.
This is Ethan's 8th Nationals' Medal for Goa overall, and notably Ethan's 3rd award-winning performance at Sub-Junior Nationals. Earlier, post COVID-19 pandemic, at just 11 years of age, Ethan tied for 2nd Place at the Sub-Junior (Under-16) Nationals (of 2021), and had thereafter tied for 3rd Place at Sub-Junior (Under-15) Nationals 2022. It may be recalled that recently, in September, Ethan won the Gold Medal for India at the Sub-Junior (Under-16) Open Commonwealth Chess Championships 2024, in Sri Lanka.
Ethan came home to a warm welcome by Goa Chess Association (GCA), Salcete Taluka Chess Association (STCA), fellow Goan players, family and friends, at the Dabolim Airport.
Speaking to the media, Ethan's father Edwin Vaz said, "We are very happy that Ethan has won this prestigious medal for Goa at the Sub-Junior Nationals. We were aiming for the Gold, but, owing to factors beyond his control, Ethan had to settle for Silver with an extremely narrow tie-break margin of just half a point — 78.5 points versus 79 points of the eventual champion."
Ethan too expressed that he had hoped to emerge as the champion. "I wanted to win the championship, but being joint 1st and winning the Silver Medal for Goa is a very good result," he said.
"We are very grateful to Ethan's coaches, sponsors Geno, ChessBase India, Group e4, everyone at The King's School, Ethan's teachers, Principal Tanuja Dessai, Director Ligia Pereira and Chairman Melvin Pereira, well-wishers who have been contributing to Ethan's crowdfunding campaign, and all our relatives and friends. Without everyone's support, it wouldn't have been possible," said Ethan's mother Linda Fernandes. "We also thank STCA, GCA, and SAG for their support always."
Asked about his future plans, Ethan said, "I want to be a Grandmaster as soon as possible, maybe one of the youngest chess grandmasters in the world."
