Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Shreyas Royal, 12, not far from becoming a chess grandmaster

Shreyas Royal, 12, not far from becoming a chess grandmaster

SHREYAS ROYAL, 12, started playing chess at the age of six and has been winning games at tournaments too. The chess prodigy has has returned recently from Budapest, after participating in a tournament where his rating rose for him to become a Fide master. He is now two titles short from becoming a grandmaster.

A confident Shreyas told The Times that he will win the title by the time he is 14. Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year and with the Queen’s Gambit there has been a boom in the popularity of chess. These days, the young generation can get to learn through chess openings, these openings are easy to learn which helps them become more prepared when they join in tournaments.


How chess happened for Shreyas? It was his father, Jitendra Singh, 41, who introduced his son to the game. There is also a story behind two different surnames of father and son. Jitendra, who works in the IT sector and his wife, Anju, 40, consulted a numerologist when Shreyas was born in India. He had suggested to keep a name that would begin with S and R. That is why Shreyas and Royal, both meaning superior.

In 2012, when Shreyas was three, Jitendra was posted to the UK for a year by his company. That is when he and his wife noticed that Shreyas was good in remembering things and in addition and subtraction. They thought any mind game along with guitar as hobby would be good for him. That is how chess started for a young Shreyas.

“I wasn’t instantly hooked,” he told the Times, and says “it took me some time, but I was curious. I started playing with other children at school, and I started winning. And that got me hooked. And playing chess has also helped me to develop a few other skills, like being more patient and sitting still.”

When he was six, they signed him up at a local chess club in East Ham, east London, and paid for private coaching. He surprised everyone by winning a tournament and soon he was representing England in an international tournament where he bagged a silver. Since then he has won 50 tournaments in the junior circuit and currently with more than enough rating points he can play at the senior level.

During the weekends his parents take him all over the UK and the world for matches at quite a high expense.

His father, Jitendra, says he has taken multiple loans and also sold a property in India to fund Shreyas's chess career. “I think in a year we spend around £30,000 on travelling, coaching, everything,” he says.

He added: “In the UK, three days of tournaments costs a minimum £500 in food, travel and accommodation. International, maybe £2,000 to £3,000 for one tournament. I want to support him. He wants to grow his career in chess, so whatever it is possible for me to do for him, I will do.”

Later a visa situation almost had ended Shreyas's chess career in the UK. After multiple visa extensions, his father was told to return to India for a year's "cooling-off" period. Then the struggle of theirs got local media attention and later support of English Chess Federation, who did not want to lose a talent like Shreyas.

Sajid Javid, the home secretary at that time intervened and changed their visas as they now hope to become British citizens next year.

In order to give more time to chess, Shreyas is now home schooled after initially attending a local primary school. He aims to be in the top 10 or even world champion and make a career out of it.

“You can earn quite a good living. But for me, it’s not so much about the money, it’s about having fun playing chess. I just enjoy it,” Shreyas said.

More For You

IPL valued at £13.5bn as Bengaluru tops franchise rankings

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli (C), along with his teammates, celebrates with the trophy after winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 final cricket match against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 4, 2025. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

IPL valued at £13.5bn as Bengaluru tops franchise rankings

THE Indian Premier League's business value has been estimated at $18.5 billion (£13.5bn) with reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru its wealthiest franchise, according to a report by an investment bank.

The world's richest cricket tournament has been a top revenue earner for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and in 2020 was estimated to generate more than $11bn (£8bn) a year for the Indian economy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sharapova defends Sabalenka

The article in question described Sabalenka’s recent practice sessions

Getty Images

Maria Sharapova defends Sabalenka, calls Wall Street Journal article 'lazy reporting'

Highlights:

  • Maria Sharapova criticises WSJ coverage of Aryna Sabalenka's Wimbledon practice
  • WSJ article suggested Sabalenka hits so hard she must train with men
  • Sharapova says the practice is standard in women’s tennis
  • Sabalenka says sessions with Djokovic and Sinner have improved her game

Sharapova challenges headline on Sabalenka

Maria Sharapova has called out the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) over its portrayal of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s Wimbledon preparations, urging the publication to “do better”.

The 2004 Wimbledon champion took issue with an Instagram post by WSJ featuring a smiling Sabalenka under the caption: “The world No. 1 who hits so hard she practises against men.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Lanka crush Bangladesh by 99 runs, clinch series

Sri Lanka's players pose with the trophy after winning the third and final one-day international (ODI) cricket match against Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on July 8, 2025. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Sri Lanka crush Bangladesh by 99 runs, clinch series

SRI LANKA stormed to a 99-run win over Bangladesh in the third and final ODI at Pallekele on Tuesday (8), sealing the three-match series 2-1 with a clinical all-round display.

Set a challenging target of 286, Bangladesh faltered under pressure and were bundled out for 186 inside 40 overs as Sri Lanka flexed their bowling muscle to wrap up the contest with ease.

Keep ReadingShow less
Red Bull sacks Christian Horner after 20 years

Red Bull Racing's British team principal and CEO Christian Horner. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Red Bull sacks Christian Horner after 20 years

CHRISTIAN HORNER is to leave his role as Red Bull team principal with immediate effect after 20 years, the Formula One team announced on Wednesday (9).

The 51-year-old Englishman has occupied the role ever since the team started out in the championship.

Keep ReadingShow less
Carlos Alcaraz Wimbledon 2025

Alcaraz had experienced occasional inconsistency in the first week of the tournament

Getty Images

Carlos Alcaraz eases past Norrie to reach Wimbledon semi-finals

Highlights

  • Carlos Alcaraz defeats Britain’s Cameron Norrie in straight sets
  • Defending champion extends winning streak to 23 matches
  • Faces American Taylor Fritz next in the semi-finals

Alcaraz powers through quarter-final test

LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) – Carlos Alcaraz had hinted that Cameron Norrie might pose a tricky challenge. And for a brief moment on Tuesday, it looked as though the defending Wimbledon champion could be in for an early scare.

The Spaniard found himself down 0-40 in his opening service game on Centre Court. But any suggestion of an upset quickly faded as Alcaraz surged to a dominant 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 victory — a performance that further cemented his status as the favourite to retain the title.

Keep ReadingShow less