Goa's Fourteen-Year-Old Ethan Vaz Becomes India's 96th Chess Grandmaster
He clinched his final GM norm at the prestigious Sarajevo GM Mix Tournament held in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Vaz has now entered the record books as the third Grandmaster from Goa, following Anurag Mhamal and Leon Mendonca.
This milestone demonstrates the immense depth of junior chess talent emerging from non-traditional sporting states in India.
Key Facts / Static GK
First Chess Grandmaster of India: Viswanathan Anand (1988)
Practice Quiz — 29 June 2026
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding PM Narendra Modi's Seychelles visit in June 2026: (1) He received the 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon' award. (2) He is the first Indian PM to address the Seychelles National Assembly. (3) India gifted the Fast Patrol Vessel PS LESPWAR. Which of these statements are correct?
Q2. The GI-tagged Sundarja mango, which was exported commercially to the UAE for the first time, is native to which Indian state?
Q3. Which agency has developed the lightweight Hospital Management Information System software 'e-Sushrut@Clinic'?
Q4. Match the Navy ship with its June 2026 location: (1) INS Ikshak - Port Victoria, Seychelles; (2) INS Sudarshini - Baltimore, USA; (3) INS Udaygiri - Sattahip, Thailand. Which of the following shows the correct matches?
Q5. At which international tournament did 14-year-old Ethan Vaz secure his final Chess Grandmaster norm to become India's 96th GM?
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