Fifteen-year-old Shreyas Royal, a schoolboy in London, has become the youngest British grandmaster. Shreyas achieved the coveted title at the British Chess Championships in Hull, breaking David Howell’s UK record of becoming one aged 16 in 2007.
Earning the title is a huge achievement for Shreyas, who had missed out by a whisker at several earlier tournaments. He achieved his first “norm” at the Bavarian Open in November 2022.
A player must achieve over a total of 27 games, which typically would require three separate tournaments, to earn the title of grandmaster. “I am so extremely proud of Shreyas,” said Jitendra Singh, his father, who was watching the championships from his home in Woolwich Arsenal, southeast London.
“It is a huge achievement for him and one he has been working towards for many years. To be the youngest ever British grandmaster is fantastic.”
In 2018 his family faced having to return to India after his father’s work visa expired. He was distraught but the family was told there could be no exception given that Singh’s salary failed to meet the threshold for a new visa.
The family were supported by the English Chess Federation (ECF), which wrote to Caroline Nokes, then the immigration minister, asking her to give special clearance. However, she would not agree. The ECF then approached Sajid Javid, then the home secretary, who said he recognised the young boy’s exceptional talent and overruled Nokes.
Dominic Lawson, the president of the ECF and a Sunday Times columnist, said: “Shreyas is a wonderful young man, mature beyond his years and completely dedicated to self-improvement.
