GM Shreyas Royal Takes On 25 Dartford Juniors
On Wednesday 14th October 2026, Dartford Junior Chess Club welcomed a very special guest: Grandmaster Shreyas Royal. At just 17, Shreyas is the youngest British Chess Champion in history and Britain's youngest-ever grandmaster — and, as a Dartford resident himself, there was no better guest to inspire our young players.
Meeting a Champion
The evening opened with the children gathered round as Shreyas answered their questions — everything from how he studies to how it feels to play for a national title. Before a single move was played, he took the time to have a photo with every one of them. For many of our juniors, meeting a grandmaster face to face was a thrill in itself.
25 Boards, One Grandmaster
Then came the main event. Shreyas took on 25 of our juniors in a simultaneous display: one grandmaster, 25 boards, moving from table to table and answering every reply almost instantly. For most of our players it was the first time they had ever sat across the board from a grandmaster, let alone a reigning national champion.
The display finished 25–0 in the grandmaster's favour. On paper that looks one-sided, and against a player of his strength it was always going to be a tall order. But the scoreline doesn't tell the whole story. Several of our juniors played superbly, holding their positions and taking Shreyas all the way into the endgame before he could find the win. More than one game drew a nod of approval from the champion himself.
Signed Prizes for the Best Performers
To finish the evening, Shreyas presented the best-performing players with a signed copy of a chess magazine featuring him on the cover — a keepsake those juniors will treasure, and a reminder of just how far hard work at the board can take you.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Events like this are at the heart of what we do at Dartford Junior Chess Club. Giving young players the chance to face a titled player, see how they think, and test themselves against the very best is invaluable for their development. Shreyas showed every child in the room that the journey from club junior to national champion is a real one — because he walked it himself, starting out much as our players are now.
A huge thank you to Shreyas Royal for giving his evening to our club, and well played to all 25 of our juniors who stepped up to the challenge.
Want your child to be part of nights like this? We meet Wednesday and Friday evenings, plus Grandmaster-led online lessons on Mondays — new players always welcome. Check the calendar or get in touch.