Crowdfunding a Chess Prodigy
Everyone loves it when an athlete wins medals for the nation!
Ethan has been winning medals 
for India since he was 8 years of age.
Silver Medal 
at World Super Finals, 2021. Silver Medal at World Cup Finals, 2021. Team Gold Medal 
at Asian Schools Chess Championship, 2021. Double Gold Medals at Western Asia Chess Championship, 2021. Gold Medal at Western Asia Rapid Chess Championship, 2019. Silver Medal at Western Asia Blitz Chess Championship, 2019.
That's 7 Medals for India, 5 of which were won in 2021 itself!
While we are grateful for these achievements, we strongly believe that Ethan could have clinched many more medals.
Well then, WHY couldn't he?
As the saying goes, 80% of success is just showing up!
But, to show up, each overseas tournament costs approximately
₹2,50,000 ~ ₹3,50,000 (US$3,500 ~ $5,000), on average.
Not within everyone's reach, you'd agree?
Well, not if there's help!
And we are banking heavily on your help to make it happen.
Welcome to
Ethan's Crowdfunding Campaign!
Talent v/s Finance
Talent without Financial Support is a losing proposition.
Digging deep into personal savings can take a professional player only so far.
We have been trying for corporate sponsorship for Ethan since 2018, with not much success despite a proven track record of top notch performances by Ethan.
The general perception is that chess is an inexpensive game. Indeed, it is! Just like living-room cricket or street football, when played just for fun.
However, pursuing chess as a professional sport is as expensive as any other individual sport like Badminton, Tennis or Boxing, considering expenses towards coaching, tournament entry fees, and travel and accommodation costs that run into several lakhs of rupees per tournament.
With every opportunity to play overseas that's missed, Ethan's dream of becoming one of the youngest chess grandmasters in the world becomes that much more challenging.
Please Support Ethan's Campaign
Your timely support will give wings for Ethan to fly high.
Small contributions, from supporters just like you, will add up and go a long way in making a Chess Grandmaster and, God willing, maybe even a World Champion.
Ethan's Official Fan Club
About Ethan
- Current World’s Youngest International Master (IM) of Chess, having accomplished all prerequisites on January 3rd, 2024.
- World No. 1 in Under-12 and India No. 1 in Under-15 (Sub-Junior) categories, in Blitz Chess, as of August 2023 (2371 Elo).
- Aiming to become one of the youngest Chess Grandmasters in the world.
- International FIDE Rated Player in all 3 formats of Chess (Classic, Rapid & Blitz) at 7 years of age (2018).
- Five-time State Champion (Goa, India) (2019 & 2020 (Under-9), 2021 (Under-10), 2022 (Under-12), 2022 (Under-15)) at 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 years of age respectively.
- Gold Medalist , at Western Asia Youth and Junior Rapid Chess Championship, 2019, Delhi.
- Silver Medalist , at Western Asia Youth and Junior Blitz Chess Championship, 2019, Delhi.
- Silver Medalist (Joint 1st Place) at National Schools Chess Championship, 2019, Aurangabad. Qualified for World Schools Chess Championship 2020, Panama, USA.
- Silver Medalist (Joint 1st Place) at Under-10 National Chess Championship 2021.
- Team Gold Medalist at Asian Schools Chess Championship 2021.
- Double Qualification for World Cup 2021 (FIDE Online Rapid World Cup 2021, Cadets & Youth) (Qualified for Under-10 as well as Under-12), and Double Podium Finish (in both categories). Double Selection for World Cup 2021 Finals (In Under-10 as well as Under-12 categories).
- Silver Medalist at World Cup 2021 Finals; Diploma from FIDE, and Direct Entry into World Super Finals 2021.
- Double Gold Medalist at Western Asia Youth Online Chess Championship 2021 (Under-10) (Individual Gold & Team Gold).
- Silver Medalist at World Super Finals 2021; Diploma from FIDE.
- Bronze Medalist at National Under-12 Chess Championship 2022, Mandya, Karnataka. Qualified for Asian Youth & World Cadets Chess Championships 2022.
- Bronze Medalist at National Amateur Chess Championships (Below-2000) 2022, Rajasthan. Qualified for Asians & World Amateur Chess Championships 2022.
- Silver Medalist at National Schools Under-11 Chess Championship 2022, Odisha. Qualified for Asian Schools & World Schools Chess Championships 2022.
- Silver Medalist at World Youth Chess Solving Championship 2022, Batumi, Georgia.
- Winner of a Record 6 Medals at Asian Youth Chess Championships 2022, Bali, Indonesia (3 Gold Medals , 2 Silver Medals , and 1 Bronze Medal )
- Bronze Medalist at National Under-11 Chess Championship 2022, Gurgaon, Haryana. Qualified for Asian Youth & World Cadets Chess Championships 2023.
- Gold Medalist at Commonwealth Chess Championship 2022, Sri Lanka.
Vision
Chess Grandmaster & World Champion
Ethan's dream is to become a Chess Grandmaster and World Champion
Seems like he’s already on the road to becoming a Grandmaster, but it’s a steep climb 
from here…
Please join in and cheer Ethan!
Give Ethan’s Facebook Page a Like/Follow:
Awards
(At a Glance)
12
International
Awards
14
National
Awards
75+
State & Local
Awards
Testimonials
[Aug 08, 2021] "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!"
[Sep 04, 2021] "Hearty congratulations to Goa's very talented, #EthanVaz on winning the Silver Medal at the Under 10 Chess World Cup. You have truly made us all proud.
[Sep 25, 2021] "Hearty Congratulations to Goa’s very talented, #EthanVaz on winning the Double Gold at Western Asia Online Chess Championship. You have truly made us all proud."
[Interviewed, upon an exemplary performance at Goa GM Tournament, 2019]
"Ethan Vaz is one of the upcoming talents of Indian chess. Check out this video in which the 7-year-old shows his win over Mukesh Mandloi of Rajasthan."
"Ethan's opponent was rated 1706 and the youngster, in spite of being nearly 400 points rated below him, was able to trick him in a complex endgame."
"Get to know one of India's future top players!"
"Ethan is very talented, intelligent and hardworking. He started chess at six, and made remarkable progress in a short period of time. He has outclassed his peers, and the way he has performed hints at much more to come."
"His passion for chess makes me realize that he is a great talent with a bright future."
"I believe in him so much, and I know that he will achieve much more and make all of us even more proud!"
[On Ethan winning the award at the Under-7 National Championships, 2018]
"The astonishing thing is that Ethan Vaz has just been coached for 6 months at Brain Power Goa Chess and Cultural Academy!"
"Ethan is like a leopard on the prowl!"
"I note with interest that Ethan has a huge appetite for chess and a killer instinct to rival that of legendary Bobby Fischer!"
"Brain Power Goa Chess Academy is proud of you! Goa is proud of you!"
This year, Thus Far
This year, 10-year old Ethan has won...
Bronze Medal at National Chess Championship. Bronze Medal at National Amateur Chess Championship. Silver Medal at National Schools Chess Championship. Joint 2nd place at National Junior Chess Championship.
That's another 3 National Podium Finishes, besides a stunning performance at National Junior (Under-16) Chess Championship at just 10 years of age!
But, thus far, despite making it to the National Podium, lack of financial support has led Ethan to drop out of significant overseas events like...
Western Asia Chess Championship (Under-12).
World Schools Chess Championship (under-11), and
Asian Schools Chess Championships (Under-11).
"How about financial support for representing India?," you'd ask!
Here's a true story...
Ethan won Gold and Silver Medals at Western Asia Chess Championships 2019, when the event was hosted in Delhi, India. The next time, Ethan won Double Gold Medals at Western Asia Chess Championship 2021 (Individual Gold as well as Team Gold), when the event was held online owing to the pandemic. In 2022, however, the championship was held in Maldives. And, despite making it to the National Podium this year too, there was no financial support offered to represent India. With a very heavy heart, Ethan had to give his favourite championship a miss and couldn't even show up to defend his title!
Sad stories like these repeat year after year.
Precious years and opportunities are fleeting by.
Sadly, Talent loses to Finance!!
You can Help Finance Ethan's Talent today.
What Next?
Ethan doesn't want to miss out anymore!
We are striving hard, despite the financial hurdles.
If Ethan has to move ahead, and win more medals, we MUST find a way for him to "show up" at overseas tournaments.
Most importantly, Ethan doesn't want to miss out on these upcoming championships that are just around the corner...
World Cadet Chess Championships (Under-12) (September)
Asian Youth Chess Championships (Under-12) (October)
Just these two championships would require a budget of over ₹5,00,000!
However, if 500 generous souls like you contribute an average of ₹1,000 each, Ethan would be fully funded for these championships.
That's the power of crowdfunding!
And you can make it happen!
⇨ Offer Your Support ⇦
Ethan's Crowdfunding Campaign
Ethan has proved, beyond any doubt, that he is exceptionally talented at chess.
That too, even without expensive coaching!
However, talent without financial support is like fish running out of water.
And so, after a lot of thought, we've decided to make an appeal for crowdfunding Ethan's journey as he pursues his vision to become one of the youngest Chess Grandmasters in the World!
And that's where angels like YOU can come along and help play a huge role in Ethan's success
Join Ethan's Crowdfunding Campaign today!
Here's an opportunity for you to be a significant part of Ethan’s journey as a professional chess player, as he pursues his vision of becoming a Chess Grandmaster and winning many more medals for the country.Come, be a pillar of support in Ethan’s real-life success story, right as it unfolds.
