17-Year-Old Shreyas Royal Becomes Youngest British Chess Champion

Shreyas Royal, 17, has made history by becoming the youngest ever British chess champion, breaking Michael Adams's 1989 record by two months. Royal's impressive performance rating of 2688 and a crucial win against Luke McShane sealed his victory at the University of Warwick, Coventry, where he took home the first prize of £10,000.

Royal's achievement is all the more remarkable given that he won the championship with a score of 7.5/9, remaining the only unbeaten player among the 107 competitors. His performance rating of 2688 is close to the elite 2700 level, and his win against McShane was achieved in imaginative style.

However, Royal will not be participating in the upcoming world Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which will feature 210 teams from around the world. The entry deadline for the event has passed, making it impossible for Royal to join the competition.

Royal's family immigrated to the UK from India when he was just three years old, and he has been making waves in the chess world since a young age. At 15, he broke David Howell's record as England's youngest ever Grandmaster (GM), and his latest achievement has cemented his status as an emerging world-class talent.

## Why it matters The new generation of chess players is taking over, with Royal, Bodhana Sivanandan, and Supratit Banerjee delivering memorable performances at the British Championship. The established grandmasters, including Michael Adams and Luke McShane, are still competing at a high level, but the emergence of these young talents is a sign of exciting times ahead for British chess.

The world Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, will be a major event, featuring 210 teams from around the world. Although Royal will not be participating, his achievement as the youngest ever British chess champion is a significant milestone, and his performance rating of 2688 makes him a player to watch in the future.