The British Chess Championship concluded at the University of Warwick in Coventry, with Shreyas Royal of Dartford, Kent capturing the title at age 17. Royal’s victory marked a generational milestone, as he surpassed the previous record held by Michael Adams, who had claimed the championship in 1989. Royal finished unbeaten across nine rounds with a score of 7.5, earning a first prize of £10,000. His performance rating of 2688 demonstrated elite-level play, including a significant victory over second-place finisher Luke McShane.
Michael Adams, an established grandmaster, nearly equaled Jonathan Penrose’s record of 10 championship victories but finished tied for second alongside McShane with a score of 7. Other notable placings included Harry Grieve, Svyatoslav Bazakutsa, Siva Mahadevan, and Simon Williams all scoring 6.5. Royal’s achievement was particularly impressive given that he was the sole unbeaten competitor among 107 total participants in the open competition.
Younger competitors also made their mark at the tournament. Bodhana Sivanandan, aged 11, demonstrated exceptional skill and claimed the women’s title in a playoff victory, with her performance earning recognition as the Alexander Prize winner for best game of the championship. Supratit Banerjee, 12, narrowly missed the International Master title at the championship but subsequently completed the necessary rating requirements just three days later in Sweden.
Royal’s path to the title followed years of development as a chess prodigy. His family immigrated from India when he was three years old, and his father’s immigration status was renewed following high-level government intervention prompted by the young player’s chess potential. At 15, Royal became England’s youngest ever grandmaster, surpassing David Howell’s previous record. His recent achievements include winning the Tournament of Peace in Zagreb and completing his third GM norm at the 2024 British Championship.
The championship drew record participation, with over 2000 entries across all events. The success of young British talents reflects a broader generational shift in the country’s chess landscape.
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