the goan I network
MARGAO
Seven-year old Ethan Vaz, representing India at the Asian Youth Chess Championships 2019 did well but fell short of claiming podium finishes.
The tournament was organised by Chess Federation of Sri Lanka under the aegis of Asian Chess Federation and FIDE (World Chess Federation), at Kaluthara, Sri Lanka, from the April 1 to 10. Some of the best players from 23 countries participated in the tournament.
In the Under-8 category, Ethan -- who hails from Raia and is a student of The King’s School -- scored a credible 6 points from 9 rounds, and stood 11th in the Standard format of the game. He lost to three higher rated players which included the Malaysian national champion, Indian national champion and the Indian No 2 player, but he got the better of six other players from India, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and even the higher rated national champion and No 1 player
of Singapore.
In the Indian team rankings, in the Standard format, Ethan scored the same points as those in the 2nd and 3rd places who also secured 6 points each, but he was placed 4th and missed the team gold medal by
a whisker.
In the Blitz format, Ethan scored 5 points from 7 rounds, the same as those in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in the Indian contingent, but was placed 4th and missed the team silver medal once again by
a whisker.
In what was his first international tournament, it was a commendable performance by Ethan as a member of the strong nine-member Indian contingent that won team medals in all three formats of the game in the Under-8 category, with two team gold medals (in Rapid and Standard Chess) and a team silver medal (in Blitz).
Earlier in July 2018, at 6 years of age, Ethan had finished 13th at the Under-7 Open National Chess Championship. Ethan undergoes chess coaching at Chess Guru
Goa Academy.
