NRI Shreyas Royal, Chess Prodigy, Achieves Historic Milestone
as Youngest British Grandmaster

Los Angeles/Aug 09, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

NRI Shreyas Royal,15, who faced the threat of eviction from the UK eight years ago due to his father's expiring work visa, has now achieved his goal of becoming the youngest British chess grandmaster ever. Shreyas earned his final grandmaster norm at the British Chess Championship, held in Hull, UK, where he secured his place in history.

Shreyas achieved this milestone by turning around a challenging game against one of Britain’s top players, GM Michael Adams, to clinch his grandmaster title. Finishing sixth in the championship with six points, Shreyas was just a point shy of the winner, GM Gawain Jones, who claimed his third British Championship title after a playoff victory against GM David Howell.

The young prodigy delivered an impressive performance, earning a positive result against four members of England’s Chess Olympiad team, set to compete in Budapest next month. Shreyas notched a win over Howell, drew with Jones, GM Luke McShane, and Adams in the final round of the tournament.

The UK’s previous youngest grandmaster achieved the title in 2007 at the age of 16.

Shreyas was born in India and the family moved to south London when he was three years old, after his father was offered a job as an IT project manager.

His talent was spotted early and he has been rated as one of the country’s best chess prospects for several years.

His Father Jitendra said:

“When we moved to the UK for my work assignment, he was doing a lot of mathematical things.
“When he was three-and-half his mum decided to put him in some mental activity. She took him to the chess club when he was five years old. From there his interest started and his journey started.”
He added: “There is no one in my family who plays chess - I just know the basic moves.”
Shreyas’ exceptional talent was a factor in allowing him and his family to remain in the UK when his father’s work visa expired in 2018.

Labour politicians Matthew Pennycook, the Greenwich and Woolwich MP, and Rachel Reeves MP, the current chancellor of the exchequer and a former junior chess champion, both made representations on their behalf.

Jitendra said: “At that time he was one of the best players in England and the English federation fought for him and Matthew Pennycook wrote to (then home secretary) Sajid Javid. "Our local MP has supported us a lot.”

Mr Javid said he had taken a personal decision to allow Shreyas and his family to stay in the UK.
He said: "The UK is a country that fosters world class talent and Shreyas is one of the most gifted chess players in his generation.”

The family are now British citizens.

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