'I was beating adults at chess when I was eight'

"When I was eight or nine I was beating adults at chess and they were raging when they lost, like 'I just lost to a little kid'."

Ethan first became interested in chess when he was six years old after he spotted someone else playing.

Now 13, he plays for Strand Chess Club in east Belfast and has represented Ireland through all his age groups.

Last week he became the youngest Ulster chess champion in history – not just in his age category but across all ages.

"I was really surprised because I've never won any of the big tournaments before, I've always got so close and I managed to win it in the end," Ethan told BBC News NI.

He said his opponents ranged from the ages of 30-65, all at least more than twice his age.

"That age range is the ages I've been playing against and I didn't get any losses. I got three wins and three draws."

Ethan said he enjoys the mental challenge of chess.

"I quite like the thinking part and the opening preparation.

"The game itself looks really interesting but there is so much more that goes into it before with preparation and tactics.

"I think I just had a natural ability from the start which I think was quite useful but I think starting at a young age helps quite a lot because it's easier to get it into your brain.

"I practice a lot and... I'm good at maths. I've got quite a good calculating ability. I think that's probably my main strength."

Neither of Ethan's parents are chess players.

However, his mum Eimear Savage said her son was fascinated with the chess board and pieces the moment he first saw them.

"It was a chance circumstance that Ethan saw someone play chess and thought it looked interesting and he decided he wanted to play and it went from there."

She said Ethan's success is all down to himself but his family support him every step of the way.

"I think Ethan just takes it in his stride and that's him. He enjoys playing chess and he enjoys taking part and when he wins it's a bonus.

"Ethan has been playing for a while now so people are used to playing against him but maybe when he was younger, I remember he wasn't quite tall enough to see over the table and he had to kneel up on the chair to get a good view of the pieces.

"That was always a bit of a spectacle but people know him now."

Ethan has played as part of the Irish team and has travelled to Paris where he played at the Eiffel Tower, as well as travelling to the Netherlands, Germany and Estonia for tournaments.

Ethan is certainly making a name for himself and his success isn't any surprise to his fellow members at Strand Chess Club.

Gareth Annesley said Ethan is a very tough opponent.

"You wouldn't think he's that young. You think you've got him and he just keeps on playing these moves and it's hard to beat him. He's very resourceful and he's very mature for his age.

"Even though he's only 13 he's been around for several years, so he has more or less beaten most of the top players in Ulster, so it wasn't a complete shock.

"If you're good enough, you're old enough in chess really."

So what's next for Ethan?

"I'm going to keep this up for the rest of my life.

"My next goal is probably to be Irish champion and then grand master probably. That's the main goal."