Goa’s young chess prodigy IM Ethan Vaz has created history by becoming the first Goan to clinch the gold medal at the National Junior Under-19 Chess Championship (Open). The prestigious tournament was held in Jamshedpur from December 16 to 24, 2025, and witnessed some of the country’s finest young chess talents in action.
At just 14 years of age, Ethan delivered a sensational performance, scoring an astounding 10.5 points out of a possible 11 rounds. His commanding display saw him finish a remarkable 1.5 points clear of the rest of the field, underlining his dominance throughout the championship.
Ethan’s triumph is being hailed as a landmark achievement for Goan chess, showcasing the State’s growing presence on the national chess map. His composure, tactical sharpness, and consistency against top-rated opponents reflected maturity well beyond his years.
The historic gold medal not only adds a major national title to Ethan Vaz’s growing list of achievements but also serves as an inspiration for young chess players across Goa and India. With this victory, Ethan has firmly established himself as one of the brightest prospects in Indian chess.
Goa’s Ethan Vaz has once again made India proud, clinching five medals at the Western Asia Youth Chess Championships 2025, held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from April 20 to 29. With this feat, Ethan’s all-time medal tally for India has climbed to 21.
The championships comprised three formats—Rapid, Standard (Classical), and Blitz—and was organized by the Tajikistan Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE.
Competing in the Under-16 (Sub-Junior) Open category, Ethan secured individual medals in all three formats: Silver in Standard, Silver in Rapid and Bronze in Blitz. He also led from the front to bag Team Bronze medals for India in Standard and Rapid formats. Notably, Team India had only two players in this category—competing against full three-member teams from countries like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan—making the team medals a particularly commendable achievement.
At just 13 years old, Ethan was eligible for the Under-14 category but opted to challenge himself by playing in the higher Under-16 category, consistent with his long-term development strategy. His selection to represent India in the higher age group followed from his medal-winning performance at the Sub-Junior (Under-15) National Chess Championship 2024. It may be noted that earlier Ethan had won the Gold Medal at the Commonwealth Chess Championships, 2024, while similarly challenging himself in the Under-16 category.
This year’s edition of the Western Asia Youth Chess Championships saw participation from 391 players across 13 countries, including 37 titled players.
“I was hoping for gold, but a consistent performance with podium finishes in all formats is an accomplishment to be very proud of,” said Ethan.
Goa Chess Association President Mahesh Candolkar, Secretary Ashesh Keni, Treasurer Vishwas Pilarnkar, and other officials congratulated Ethan on his stellar performance and wished him continued success.
“We are very grateful to Ethan’s coaches, sponsors, The King’s School, and all our well-wishers for their unwavering support,” said Ethan’s mother, Linda Fernandes. “We also thank AICF, GCA, SAI, and SAG for their constant encouragement and assistance.”
Ethan and his father are currently en route to India, with their travel plans disrupted due to a last-minute cancellation of their connecting flight following the closure of Pakistan’s airspace—a consequence of the recent Pahalgam terror attack
