Ethan Vaz first encountered chess around age six as a way to enjoy indoor play with his older sibling and reduce screen time. He quickly showed skill, prompting his parents to arrange coaching. After eight months of training, he represented Goa at the national under-7 event in 2018 and earned a prize in his debut national competition. That result convinced his family of his potential. The 14-year-old recently became India’s 96th Grandmaster by winning a tournament in Sarajevo. His parents, Edwin and Linda, both software engineers, returned to Goa from Japan in 2011 following the tsunami. They have since supported their son’s chess development. As Ethan has matured, his goals have shifted toward becoming world champion and reaching the top ranking. His father noted the large gap between a new Grandmaster and elite players, acknowledging the long path ahead. Financial limits made overseas travel difficult, leading the family to use crowdfunding for support. Ethan’s next step is to play regularly in high-level events against strong opponents.
