MARGAO
While other children of his age were busy playing video games, nine-year-old chess prodigy Ethan Vaz had something else on his mind.
Ethan was getting ready for the challenges which lay in store for him at the National Under-10 online chess championship. Having done his homework diligently, Ethan, a class 5 student of The Kings High School, Sao Jose de Areal, has since emerged a runner-up at the national championship, a title he missed by a whisker.
Ethan was tied on points at the top with Reyan Md of Bihar with 10.5 points but the latter finished first with a better tiebreak score. By virtue of the podium finish, Ethan will now represent India at the World Cup 2021 (FIDE Online Rapid World Cup 2021, Cadets & Youth, Under 10 Open) scheduled to be held in August.
AIM Ethan, a two-time Goa State champion, completed a hat-trick last month by winning the Goa State Chess Championship and got selected to represent Goa at the Nationals. He has earlier won gold and silver medals for India at the Western Asia Chess Championships 2019.
Ethan had shown a lot of promise in the Under-10 championship where he achieved FIDE 1441 ELO points at the age of seven years. Coached by Prakash Singh at Chess Guru Goa Academy, he sharpened his skills by playing against fancied opponents. Born to computer engineers, Linda Fernandes and Edwin Vaz, Ethan hails from the village of Raia.
“The Kings School have been very supportive. Especially teachers Ligia Pereira and Melvin Pereira, who borne the school fees and helped him to stay flexible and play tournaments without any pressure. Ethan is still very young and has long to go and climb up the chess ladder,” Edwin Vaz said.
“Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent, father and mother, who believed in him first,” Edwin said. “Certainly, our goals are higher and these are the first steps.”
Meanwhile, Ethan was elated with his latest success. “Feeling happy to finish on the podium and to be selected to play for India for the World Cup 2021,” he said.
“I have been preparing just the way I prepare for any other tournament. This is my first World Cup and I am excited about it. I have not set any specific goal. I am going to take it a game at a time,” Ethan said, reflecting on his preparations.
