12-year-old Becomes Youngest Chess International Master

Ethan Vaz, a 12-year-old student at The King’s School, Margao, Goa, became one of the youngest chess international masters (IM) after he acquired his final IM norm at the Vezerkepzo GM Christmas 2023 chess tournament in Budapest, Hungary, in January this year. He is the first IM from India in 2024 and the eighth IM from the state of Goa. Ethan began playing chess in 2017 and is presently world number two in the under-12 open category. He has participated in many chess tournaments locally and internationally and has won numerous medals.