MARGAO
Fresh from completing all the requirements for the coveted Grandmaster title by securing his final norm in Bosnia, GM-elect Ethan Vaz of Goa continued his remarkable run of form on the international chess circuit by finishing on the podium in the Masters tournament of Serbia Open 2026, one of Europe's strongest international open chess events.
The tournament attracted a strong international field of 239 players from 33 countries, 164 of whom were titled players including 14 Grandmasters, 23 International Masters, 4 Woman Grandmasters and 64 FIDE Masters, amongst others.
Ethan faced titled opposition in eight of the nine rounds, taking on one Grandmaster, five International Masters, one Woman Grandmaster and one FIDE Master. The 14-year-old Goan chess sensation scored five wins and four draws to remain unbeaten throughout the nine-round event and secure the second runner-up position, while finishing ahead of all 14 Grandmasters in the field. IM Aswath S of India won the championship.
With the race to the top going right down to the final round, the championship was within Ethan's reach. Playing on the top board against the sole tournament leader, who held a slender half-point lead, victory would have seen Ethan leapfrog into first place and claim the championship. However, his opponent adopted a solid French Defence that offered very few practical winning opportunities, and the closely contested encounter ended in a 35-move draw after nearly three and a half hours of play.
The Serbia Open formed part of the tournament itinerary that Ethan's parents put together after a last-minute visa setback prevented him from representing India at the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships 2026 in Italy. The contingency plan ultimately became one of the most successful overseas tours of Ethan's career.
Reflecting on the tournament, Ethan said, "I was aiming to win the Serbia Masters tournament, but finishing as the second runner-up is a good result. Overall, I'm happy with my performance at the tournament, and I look forward to playing more such challenging tournaments."
Ethan's father, Edwin Vaz, who was accompanying him, expressed, "Ethan has been performing consistently, and we are hopeful that he will become an even stronger player if given the right kind of opportunities. With the Grandmaster title secured, we are concluding the tour and returning home after this tournament. We are grateful for how Ethan's journey has unfolded, thankful to everyone who has supported him throughout this journey, and we look forward to even higher accomplishments in the years to come."
Ethan is scheduled to return to Goa on Friday, July 24, as Goa prepares to welcome its third and newest Grandmaster, currently the world's second-youngest and India's youngest Grandmaster. His podium finish at one of Europe's strongest international open chess tournaments provides a fitting finale to what has been a truly remarkable tour.
