He is England’s most promising youngster – the world’s youngest Candidate master and number 2 worldwide in his age-group.
But he has spent most of this year worrying about his family’s visa status, and whether he will be able to live in the UK.
Yet today Battersea prodigy Shreyas Royal was finally able to show off why he has been allowed to stay – directly to the man who made that decision.
The nine-year-old was invited to the House of Commons to play Home Secretary Sajid Javid today in a friendly meeting attended by English Chess Federation president Dominic Lawson.
It was Mr Javid, of course, who ruled in the youngster’s favour when his family launched an immigration appeal to the Home Office.
Receiving a chess masterclass from child prodigy Shreyas Royal. Star of the future #ChequersMate pic.twitter.com/VuQ22urw0f
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) October 17, 2018
The Royal family had previously been told they would have to return to India when his father’s work visa expired in September.
But following an intervention from the new Home Secretary they were told they can now stay under a new work visa.
Mr Javid said in August he took the “personal decision” as Shreyas, who has lived in Britain since he was three years old, is “one of the most gifted chess players in his generation”.
And the youngster, who has lived in Britain since he was three years old, was able to show exactly why with a clean win in his game against the minister with Black.
Afterwards, Mr Javid – who lost in 10 minutes – said he’d been given a “masterclass”.
Anju Royal, Shreyas’s mother, said: “Sajid is an excellent chess player, he said his daughter taught him all moves.
“He is very proud now chess is on booming in England and again next week we are going to the House of Commons for an event organised by Rachel Reeves, Shreyas will probably be playing a simultaneous against a group of MPs.”
