Seventeen-year-old Grandmaster Shreyas Royal claimed his first British Chess Championship title as 11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest British Women’s champion on record, capping a landmark edition of the event at the University of Warwick in Coventry.
The nine-day festival was billed as the largest in the championship’s 122-year history. Organizers increased prize money, including a record purse for the open section and a more than doubled fund for the women’s competition. They also expanded the program to include junior training, social events, and sections from under-8s to seniors.
Highlights of the Championship
Royal finished top after nine rounds, ending half a point clear of England internationals Luke McShane and nine-time champion Michael Adams. He moved into sole lead on 6/7 after seven rounds, drew with Adams in the penultimate game, and sealed the title by defeating International Master Harry Grieve in the final round. The south-east London player became Britain’s youngest-ever grandmaster in 2024 and has since established himself as one of the country’s foremost young talents.
Sivanandan secured the women’s crown after a rapid-play playoff against 14-year-old Trisha Kanyamarala of Ireland, who is the first Irishwoman to achieve the Woman Grandmaster title. Sivanandan’s only loss in the main event came against Royal in round six, and she also recorded a standout win over Grandmaster Ameet Ghasi. Already the UK Open Women’s Blitz champion and joint British Women’s Rapid champion, she now holds national titles across all three time controls.
Her victory sets a new age record for the British Women’s Championship, surpassing benchmarks set by Elaine Pritchard, who won outright in 1939 at 13, and Akshaya Kalaiyalahan, who shared the title in 2013 just days before turning 12. Commentators described Sivanandan as an exceptional prospect and suggested she could soon contend for the overall crown.
The twin triumphs by Royal and Sivanandan highlighted the growing impact of young players at the top of British chess. Their achievements not only inspire their peers but also mark a significant evolution in the competitive landscape of chess in the UK.