Goa’s teenaged chess player Ethan Vaz has become one of India’s youngest Grandmasters after achieving his 3rd Grandmaster Norm and completing the requirements for the prestigious GM title by winning the Chess Summer in Sarajevo-GM Mix Chess Tournament organised by SK “Slavija”Istocno Sarajevo GM Mix (part of the Chess Festival 2026).
The 14-year-old also becomes Goa’s 3rd Grandmaster and 96th GM in the country, however, the achievement is subject to the official ratification by chess governing body FIDE at its next Council meeting.
Ethan will be one of India’s youngest GMs having completed the title at 14 years 9 months and 27 days. He will be the 40th youngest to achieve the title in the world just behind fellow Goan star GM Leon Luke Mendonca, who did it in 14 years 9 months and 17 days.
IM (2522) Ethan Vaz from Raia in South Goa, remained unbeaten in the strong tournament in Sarajevo; and drew with GM Sharivazdanov Andrey (2472) of Serbia in the 4th round beat GM Bernadskiv Vitaliv (2511) of Ukraine in the 7th round and drew with GM Kovchan Alexander (2444) in the final round to win the title.
Earlier, IM Ethan Vaz’s first GM norm came at the GM 4 Festival Saha Bijeljina 2025 in Bosnia and Herzegovina where he also won the tournament. His 2nd GM norm followed at the GM Mix Fantastico tournament i Senta, Serbia in Januaary 2026.
IM Ethan Vaz had earlier crossed the ELO 2500 rating which needs to be crossed for award of the title.
Goa Chess Association President Mahesh Candolkar congratulated Ethan for completing his GM norms at such a young age and hoped that he will go on to become a super GM like Leon Luke Mendonca.
Goa Chess Association Secretary,
Ashesh Keni said all the association members are thrilled at this highly anticipated recognition. He emphasised the contribution of Goa Chess Association which has now created history with 2 of its GMs being among India’s top 10 youngest Grandmasters. He expresssed hope that Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadker will announce and immediately hand over a major grant to the Grandmasters including GM Leon Mendoca and IM Ethan Vaz, who have made it to the youngest GMs of the world.
Keni said that state of Assam had
immediately handed over Rs. 10 lakhs to their new GM. He said that it is only due to the tremendous hard work and sacrifice of the players, their families and the coaches. The pick them young at the ‘Chess in Schools’ programme of Goa Chess Association, has made this possible, asserted Keni.
