PANAJI: Goan chess prodigy Ethan Vaz emerged third runner-up at FIDE World Cup 2021 (Cadets & Youth, Under-10 Open) and qualified for the finals. The event is organised by International Chess Federation (FIDE) and hosted by Georgian Chess Federation.
The 10-round Swiss tournament was tightly contested by 227 of the best players from 73 countries, including 20 from India, 16 from USA and 11 from Russia, amongst others. Ethan who was seeded at a modest 48th spot with an Elo rating of 1384 and was ranking 5th amongst his Indian counterparts at the start of the tournament, displayed exceptional talent, grit and tenacity to finish in the top 10, thereby qualifying for the World Cup Finals, a knock-out tournament that will be played later this month amongst these top 10 players plus an additional 6 of the world’s highest-rated players in the under-10 category who get a direct entry into the finals, according to information reaching here via Goa Chess Association Secretary Kishor Bandekar.
Pitted against 7 higher rated opponents, Ethan scored an impressive 8 points of possible 10, with 7 wins, 2 draws and a lone loss against the eventual 1st runner-up Smirnov Mark of Kazakhstan. Along the way, Ethan defeated 3 players from USA, 1 Russian, and 1 player each from Turkey, Vietnam and Canada, and settled for a draw each with the top players from the delegations of Russia and Chile.
Moving into the fifth and final day of the tournament, Ethan was at 6.5 points in 8 rounds, and a podium finish seemed well within reach. Unfortunately, the 9th round game against Russian star Dmitriy Petukhov ended in a draw as both players played impressive chess amidst intense time pressure that kept online spectators of the live telecast on the edge of their seats in a nail-biting finish. With a win in the 10th round, hopes of Ethan securing a podium finish were still intact, but the top player Smirnov Mark of Kazakhstan, who was having a sole lead after round 9, lost the final round in an anti-climax landing Ethan into the fourth spot with a margin of just half a point.
Expressing joy on Ethan’s exceptional achievement, Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant said, “I congratulate Ethan on his commendable performances, first winning the Team Gold Medal for India at the Asian Schools Chess Championship 2021, and then emerging as the 3rd runner-up at the FIDE World Cup 2021 (Cadets & Youth), competing with the best of the best chess players from 73 countries, and being the only Indian Under-10 player to qualify for the next stage – the World Cup Finals. Ethan has made Goa shine on the world stage, and I am proud of him. Entire Goa is proud of him!”
