Goa, April 11 -- ATHUL KP

Every journey begins with a first move. For Ethan Vaz, it didn't happen in a tournament hall, but at home - when a chessboard replaced cartoons and quietly set him on a path now unfolding on the national and international stage. "I was hoping to win gold, but win ning silver at the Under-17 Nationals is also a very good result. This is my 10th medal at Nationals, and I am happy that I have been consistent over the years," Ethan said. Ethan's journey began at the age of six. "My parents told me that my brother and I used to watch a lot of cartoons on TV, so they enrolled us in chess classes. I enjoyed chess a lot, and everything just flowed from there. My first coach, Prakash Singh, believed in my talent, and my ...