What were you doing when you were 14?
If you answered that you are on your way to becoming a world chess champion, then you have something in common with him Shreyas Royal.
He has been playing chess since he was six years old and is so talented that the UK granted visas to him and his family so that they could stay in the country and Shreyas could continue playing chess. At the age of 12, he won his first Grand Master and became the youngest FIDE Master in UK history (he currently ranks above the international level).
So yeah, he’s heading towards his ultimate goal: to become a world champion before he turns 21.
“If not, I am very happy to be one of the top ten chess players,” he says.
Let’s get to know Shreyas better. Also check out the second episode of the original Olympics series, Outside The Game, featuring Shreyas and his father.
Shreyas Royal talks about his love for chess and his dream opponent
What makes chess keep bringing you back to the board to play?
It’s a very cool game that I feel like I have a lot to learn. I used to like it, and I don’t even know why I like it!
If you reach your goal of becoming a world chess champion by the time you turn 21, you will be the youngest world chess champion ever. Can you remember when you set this goal and what motivated you to do it? .
I remember setting this up when I was about seven years old. I admit I was very optimistic, but it was set as a starting point that would make me want to work and improve at chess. For now, more realistic and mature, I’ll be happy to be in the top ten in the future.
Can you walk us through your earliest chess memories?
I remember playing a game with my dad, it was one of my first games and I remember putting the king and queen on the wrong squares and my dad didn’t notice either. You captured your king at the end of the game when it was checkmate, but capturing the king is really illegal.
How prepared are you to face highly qualified opponents?
I’m trying to find out what kind of situations he’s in, and identify his strengths and weaknesses. I check out openings he’s faced in the past and look at some of his stats, and how he fared against weaker opponents. The pursuit of any kind of advantage with white and equality with black’s right to open are also very important goals.
Do you have a particular competitive memory that stays with you? Maybe it’s a winning moment or a match you’d like to have another chance at?
My most vivid memory was in the 2017 European U8 Junior Chess Championship. I won joint first place, which in itself was impressive, I can remember standing on the huge stage with my hands weighed down with a huge cup in one hand and a stack of papers and money. All this while being draped in the English flag in front of the excited and enthusiastic crowd. My muscles were sore at the end of that memorable night but it was worth it as there must be over a thousand euros worth of items.
Due to your chess skills, the UK has granted you and your family a visa to stay in the country. What are your thoughts when it happened and how has it affected your career?
My father received a call on August 10, 2018, a month before we left the UK. When the call ended, my father had a wide smile on his face. He told us the wonderful news that the Home Office had just given him. By then we had given up all hope, so this was a pleasant shock. We were glad that all the efforts of the people who helped us finally paid off. This means that I can continue my career in the country that discovered and expanded my chess talent. I also grew up in this country and was so used to the environment and the people that I’m thankful I didn’t have to change either.
Not many teenagers have mastered chess. What other interests or hobbies do you have when you are not playing chess? Are there any shows, books or video games that you like?
I like to play some sports, especially football and cricket. I often read adventure books and I would say the Alex Rider series is my favourite. I’m not a huge fan of video games, but I enjoy watching movies and watching YouTube videos.
Are there times during the match when you know you have an advantage over an opponent, or do they have an advantage over you? How do you capitalize on your advantage or recover from a mistake?
This happens often. I try to stay as calm as possible when I have a decisive advantage and try to be lethal by being as ruthless as possible when presenting the opponent. When my opponent has an advantage, I try to make problems for him and create more risks and dilemmas.
You managed to make the opening move of Magnus Carlson, your favorite chess player. It was a d4 pawn, and you mentioned it as your favorite opening move. Why?
I was fortunate enough to make the ceremonial first move twice for Magnus, the first was in the London Chess Classic and the second was in the World Chess Championship 2018, which also took place in London. Both times, he requested that 1. d4 be rolled. 1. d4 was the first opening I learned as a white, starting at the age of six, and I still practice it a lot. As a kid, I played 1. d4 because that’s what I was learning and kept playing because it leads to a variety of pawn positions and combinations, which is very useful for a chess player to understand.
Speaking of Magnus Carlsen, if you could play with any other player in the world, who would it be and why?
I have the honor to play against many players from the past like Garry Kasparov, Bobby Fischer and Anatoly Karpov. As for active gamers, I’d be happy to play with a solid 2700 GM.
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